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.
Book Description
It was missing a piece.
And it was not happy.
So it set off in search
of its missing piece.
And as it rolled
it sang this song -
Oh I'm lookin' for my missin' piece
I'm lookin' for my missin' piece
Hi-dee-ho, here I go,
Lookin' for my missin' piece.
What it finds on its search for the missing piece is simply and touchingly told in this fable that gently probes the nature of quest and fulfillment.
Customer Reviews:
Even young children get it.......2007-09-28
Both my 5 year old and my three year old love this book. It relates to all three of us at levels we all can understand. I always enjoyed reading this story, but it was not until I had children and began reading to them, did I realize the signaifcance and poinancy of what was realy going on. Not to look for affirmation or completion, but you are ok just as you are. I fell in love with this book all over again.
Possibly the best book ever written.......2007-09-10
OK, there may be some stiff competetion in terms of "the best book ever written" -but this is one of my favorite books ever written. For some reason it's lesser known than many of the other Shel Silverstein poem books (may adults have never heard of it), but IMHO this one is a MUST READ. Although I like some of the poem books, quite honestly, they aren't my favorite. If you judge this book by them, then you may miss this wonderful story. I don't think that I've read this and haven't been able to get a smile out of any kid or any adult.
Really , being careful what you ask for, you might just get it.......2007-01-22
My daughter, Sophia, recently reminded me that this was her "favorite" Silverstein growing up, though she certainly read them all and grew up on them. Well, not the adult magazine stuff, the kid stuff. Now almost 16 she tells me that she thinks this particular story has a "genius" that she relates to her view of the "search" for "love" and "completion". A part of me, as her mom, cringes now figuring this relates to our homelife somehow as we Mom's tend to feel things always relate to our mistakes or our blindnesses and on some level parental dynamics... but...that's the point really.
This is a very clear description of her father (her sister disagrees and makes this a nice pointed discussion) she says to me happily today as I relate I'm writing this review of a past favorite, and I suppose I can nod that I know it is, really. In the story a missing piece meets a rolling ...thing...a story of how a pie shaped piece completes a circle after long search..a story of something that is unhappy alone that searches for others to plug the gap, or to plug another's hole, making and then losing,then breaking, then fleeing from wholeness possibilities in those completions found. A perfect one or two situations present themselves (to make a deeper point about what this story is really about) to be crushed or left, as life didn't become perfect enough in this unity based on this "needing". In the end, in a kind of epiphany, it would appear better go along unfilled, being happy or at least free, understanding this thing called "need" that can't be filled by another at least for long- and singularly or at least in "self"- enjoying in a Thoreau like way flower, fields, slow pursuit, smells, clouds, days. Just as the Tree in the "Giving Tree" comes off female, the piece in the Missing Piece projects male. I want to say a few other things but I will stop as it will reveal my thoughts on those that look, judge, decide and move on.
A kind of Silverstein looks at relationships guidebook I suppose. This is another aspect of human dynamics, different from the Tree story, not about parenting but about living, and no easy parable- open to many interpretations and likely quite telling in how one relates to its meaning. Fits for my daughter something that appears to be very much a part of her self concept. She wants to go out and develop her life and feels searching for another to be a true fools bargain, well I was quoting her. I'm mostly just wondering. I suppose a bit more confused as ever. not allowed enough insight to really understand a typical Silverstein technique. Torn by whether or not I can accept the message. Reminded me of "What's It All About Alfie?" but I'm not sure why. I stand by it as my response however.
When I read it to Sophia young I often thought that I should:
1)hide the book from her father
2) change the ending but she read early and so I would try to edit but she was not fooled
3) disparage it vehemently
But I picked:
d) just kind of wonder why it spoke to her so clearly
And I imagine it still speaks to many including Sophia. I read someone here relating it as a wedding present. I'm trying to picture that happening. Somehow not sure even as a completely actualized being or couple if I'd be entirely joyful with this as a wedding present, it seems a pretty strong argument against the state, but that's just me. Who knows maybe I just prefer silver patterns and china. Maybe I'm not there yet.
Sophia, who loved round heads in stories, at two Charlie Brown being her favorite, always stopped the story and said, "I don't think this is a good end." And would make me read it over and over loving it, shutting it as it rolled down the hill. And my son would leave the room but he wasn't so big on this story....he and Sylvia loving the poetry volume "Where The Sidewalk Ends"..in the end I felt this had mixed family reviews optimists on one side calling the other side pessimists, pessimists on the other calling themselves optimists and label makers aimed...in short, my husband found the book "exactly right"..."It's the pursuit, Sarah"....
And I looked out wistfully and sang internally the "The City of New Orleans" and thought about days when we were both free to travel....in this way Silverstein captures feelings in our heart....(And for the record I do not recommend the Big O as to me speaking as powerful a message though it is a message one might "want" to hear.. I thought it was a poor attempt to dumb/numb/water/happify the message,a sequel.)
And yes I do recommend it to read with the caveat you might want to read it yourself first and think a bit about how you feel.
for a wedding gift.......2007-01-10
This is a wonderful children's book, but I have given a copy as a wedding gift. It was very well recieved.
if you've never really grown up. . ........2007-01-04
Like nearly all of Silverstein's book, this is excellent and is worth reading over and over again. Cute for kids or the potential to have a strong social message to adults dealing with relationships. . .or just life.
Book Description
The missing piece sat alone
waiting for someone
to come along
and take it somewhere....
The different ones it encounters - and what it discovers in its helplessness - are portrayed with simplicity and compassion in the words and drawings of Shel Silverstein.
Customer Reviews:
profound.......2007-04-01
This was a gift to me after a divorce. The content is simple yet profound and I love to share it with my children in hopes that they too will know that relationships are at their healthiest when people are whole and complete, rather than half of a whole like a friendship necklace (to the chagrin of tweeners everywhere!) ;) I now share this with others who are going through relationship troubles or struggle with their self-worth.
Special.......2007-03-18
A person who was one of the most influential in my life gave this to me as a gift. After reading the book, the gesture impacted me that much more. I buy this for anyone that means something to me. This type of book should be shared by all. Silverstein is a master who I still feel isn't talked about enough.
Don't forget 'The Missing Piece'!
Darling and meaningful!.......2007-02-05
I LOVE this book. What a simple way of viewing the process of breakups and of finding meaningful relationships! Great for readers of all ages.
for anniversary gift.......2007-01-10
This is a wonderful children's book, but I also gave a copy as anniversary gift. It was well recieved.
Lives up to its predecessor by far.......2007-01-05
The Missing Piece is one of the greatest stories I've ever read, it just floored me the first time I read it and my entire family has fallen in love with Shel Silverstein.
The Missing Piece Meets the Big O follows perfectly in those footsteps...where I could relate 100% with the Missing Piece, I think the Big O is slightly more feminine in nature, but both fable the woes of searching for meaning in our lives and what happens to us when we find it.
As a sidenote...there definitely seems to be some sexual connotation with the Big O, and while I find the stories completely safe for my 5 year old, I think they offer a lot of great underlying tones for adults as well.
Customer Reviews:
BEFORE YOU HAVE DENTAL WORK, READ THIS BOOK.......2007-03-01
Metal in your mouth, fillings, crowns, implants, should be considered carefully. This book will help you to be an informed dental patient. Dentistry is changing radically for the better. Educate yourself.
If you have teeth, you should read this book........2007-02-16
Written in language a common person can understand. Very informative concerning how the teeth are connected to all parts of the body and not just separate pieces of the body. As a novice in learning about whole body health, this book helped me tremendously to understand meridians and the improtance of a healthy mouth.
One Big Conspiracy.......2006-11-16
This is the sort of book for paranoid people addicted to conspiracy theories. They would rather believe a fanciful lie than the mundane truth.
Though I don't agree with most of what's written in this book, I don't regret buying it. It teaches me how to con ignorant people with high tech jargon and conspiracy theories. If people BELIEVE that amalgams or metal restorations are the cause of their headaches, fatigue or whatever symptoms, then removing them will definitely cure them. That's how faith healing works.
The only reason why I don't use amalgam in my practice is because I do cosmetic dentistry. If the patient does not mind the colour, amalgam is definitely a superior direct filling material for Class 2 and subgingival preps. I have absolutely no qualms about having that done for myself.
Toxicity? Sure, some people are affected by amalgams and anything can be toxic to somebody, but let's not forget that these cases are extremely rare (perhaps less than 10 on this planet and most of them would be Chinese). There are literally thousands of tests and studies establishing amalgams as safe filling materials over the last 100 years. There are numerous studies that show how safe amalgams are. If Dr Breiner has been to Asia where we have much healthier diets and lifestyles, he may notice that we also have many healthy 70 to 90-year-old Asian men and women who have gold and amalgam-filled teeth in their mouths.
Are composites totally safe? The incidence of allergic reactions to composites (very low) is higher than that of amalgam toxicity. This is something the author failed to inform us. All his anecdotal evidence are almost laughable as they are not supported by independent studies and sceptical parties. Not one case he mentioned can be conclusively attributed to amalgam. Mercury can be very toxic, but after tituration and amalgamation, the metal remains in the solid state and is not absorbed by the body. It's different from inhaling mercury vapour daily, injecting or ingesting mercury or mercuric compounds.
At the end of the day, propagating such beliefs will only spark panic, paranoia and various psychosomatic "illnesses". Following Breiner's protocols for "detox", patients will only be paying a fortune for otherwise very simple dental work. Gosh, with so many gullible patients in America, I should probably move my practice to America and start doing amalgam detox instead of honing my skills for cutting crowns, bridges and sinking implants.
Highly recommended.......2006-08-23
This book was great, it really enlightened me to the mouth being the entry to the whole body. I will be going to an integrative, whole body dentist next! Definitely worth reading!
Compelling Information about Whole Body Dentistry.......2006-03-10
This was a very informative and well written book about "alternative dentistry". Dr. Breiner explains the differences between traditional and whole body dentistry in easy to understand terms. He gave many examples of the types of health problems which can be related to amalgams, root canals, periodontal work, orthodontics and bridges and partials. He also described the kind of exam and treatment a whole body dentist would use. A great read.
Customer Reviews:
The most intelligent book on the paranormal out there........1999-11-30
This really is invaluable to anyone interested in researching paranormal claims. Full of humor, references and suggestions, it's like a gigantic handbook, or operations manual for the paranormally inclined. Told from a skeptical point of view, the insight and commentary is enlightening. A must-have in the library of anyone who has an interest in all aspects of the supernatural.
Book Description
Praise for Performance Management
"We are witnessing a convergence among advanced management concepts and practices. Performance management is a means to pull it all together, to understand the strengths and limitations of each management practice and leverage it for competitive advantage. Cokins' book walks us through all this in a manner that makes something confusing much less so.
There is no one right answer for any situation. The answer lies in a balance of concepts and the integration of them. Performance Management is the glue that holds them all together.
This book helps the reader understand the breadth of PM. It's not just about measuring!"
—John F. Morrow, CPA, AICPA Vice President, The New Finance
"Gary Cokins has articulated the '411' of performance management. His combination of personal anecdotes with fundamental cost and performance management theories provides business leaders at all levels, in any industry or profession, a solid resource for practicing their work.
This book is not only an invaluable resource for those new to performance management but provides guidance, wisdom, support, and insight to all industry leaders and managers. Cokins has organized and simplified the many complex performance management theories, associated tools, and infrastructure for the reader.
Buy it, read it, and give it to your colleagues—then celebrate your successes!"
—Sue Swertfeger, Senior Manager, Owens & Minor
Download Description
Praise for Performance Management
" We are witnessing a convergence among advanced management concepts and practices. Performance management is a means to pull it all together, to understand the strengths and limitations of each management practice and leverage it for competitive advantage. Cokins' book walks us through all this in a manner that makes something confusing much less so.
" There is no one right answer for any situation. The answer lies in a balance of concepts and the integration of them. Performance Management is the glue that holds them all together.
" This book helps the reader understand the breadth of PM. It's not just about measuring!"
-- John F. Morrow, CPA, AICPA Vice President, The New Finance
"Gary Cokins has articulated the '411' of performance management. His combination of personal anecdotes with fundamental cost and performance management theories provides business leaders at all levels, in any industry or profession, a solid resource for practicing their work.
"This book is not only an invaluable resource for those new to performance management but provides guidance, wisdom, support, and insight to all industry leaders and managers. Cokins has organized and simplified the many complex performance management theories, associated tools, and infrastructure for the reader.
"Buy it, read it, and give it to your colleagues-- then celebrate your successes!"
-- Sue Swertfeger, Senior Manager, Owens & Minor
Customer Reviews:
Great for senior managers and executives.......2007-04-16
There aren't a lot of really good books about performance management, and performance measurement specifically, available yet. Too many of them are overly prescriptive in what to measure and very light on the details of how to measure (properly).
Because I specialise in performance measurement (and have done for over 14 years now), I've read quite a bit in this field and expected that Gary's book was going to be another one I'd refuse to recommend to my clients and subscribers.
But that's not what happened. I actually really enjoyed Gary's book, and support a lot of his philosophy about performance management. It's got to have strong alignment to strategy, it's got to be well thought through, it's not really about scorecards and technology, it's about making it easier to execute strategy, and it's about reliable and objective data.
It's a great book to give people that really need to take performance management more seriously, particularly senior managers and executives. It's not a book for the operational manager that is new to performance measurement (in this case try "Performance Scorecards" by Chang and Morgan).
Quantifiable vs. Qualifiable Performance Management Systems.......2005-03-23
I met Gary at a SAS conference the other day and we had a discussion on various issues. One of them being the query of why so many strategies to improve performance fail. Is it in the design or the execution of strategy? Gary popped the commonly accepted view that it is failure to execute otherwise sound strategies. And I replied, being a Strategy Consultant for over 16 years, that I haven't seen a sound strategy yet. After some debat we agreed that design and execution are equaly important.
This book is about execution of sound strategies using a series of quantifiable performance management methods. These are most popular in the Anglo-Saxon (US/UK) world and have been exported to the European mainland as well where they compete with qualifiable performance management systems. What is the difference? Quantifiable PMS' are based on measurement and consequences as strategy and tactics are imposed top-down. Qualifiable PMS' however are based upon a 'meeting-in-between' strategy process where productivity is boosted by inspiration, motivation and creativity. Employee involvement is the key. Instead of using fixed targets and bandwiths, one would use waypoints and scenario's, leaving the control of execution to operational teamleaders. (In W.W.II the Germans were 1.7 times more effective than the Allied forces using qualifiable techniques, even though they were outnumbered 3 to 1 by allied forces using quantifiable techniques). Qualifiable techniques are based on the assumption that operational conditions and short term objectives change all too rapidly for a rigid approach of planning & control. But if operational teamleaders understand the strategic and tactical objectives they can easily adapt to new conditions.
However Gary's latest book is the best book on quantifiable PMS' since Maximum Performance Management by Boyett & Conn (that actually tries to combine qualifiable and quantifiable techniques).
Don't just buy it, read it!
Great addition to ABC and Performance Improvement.......2004-06-29
From TQM to Balanced Score Cards - this is the book that provides a practical synthesis. Focus on cause and effect relationships and away from abstractions. Must have book.
Business performance in context of today's environment.......2004-05-17
If execution is the goal these days, then this book brings an interesting perspective -- it's both big picture AND 'how to do it' at the same time. Cokins does a great job of putting the execution imperative into the larger context of "why." A good read for a reminder of basic performance management tools and for exploring how they work best in the context of today's tough business environment.
Great Graphics in Performance Management.......2004-05-16
Gary's book, on Performance Management published by Wiley, does an excellent job of pointing out there are no "Silver Bullets" or management tools that solve all problems. Combinations of the right techniques is an art. Bold graphics and flow charts in the book do much to stimulate the thought process. Business failure is often a result of inadequate performance management systems. Survival in today's global economy requires many of the better performance management techniques described in Gary's new book. A great addition to any business library. Bill Hass, Certified Turnaround Professional, wjhass@aol.com
Book Description
How far will a mother go to protect her family from a madman?
An unrivaled master of psychological suspense, Joy Fielding has written her most chilling and intricate novel yet--a compulsively readable look at the razor-thin line between daily domesticity and nerve-shattering terror.
It had to end in blood. Family therapist Kate Sinclair, healer of lost souls, perfect wife and mother, has suddenly become trapped in a nightmare of her own. Her teenage daughter has just discovered sex, lies, and rebellion. Her ex-boyfriend has returned to threaten her marriage. Her once-peaceful hometown is being awakened by chilling headlines: Another woman is missing. Kate can sense the darkness gathering around her, can see the mistakes, the missteps, the missing pieces. She is afraid of what tomorrow will bring.
Enter Colin Friendly, a man on trial for abducting and killing thirteen women--the handsome, "misunderstood" sociopath Kate's troubled sister plans to marry. Colin loves women to death. He can't wait to see Kate and the girls again. One dark night when they are home alone, disarmed, ready for bed...
Customer Reviews:
I actually liked this book!.......2007-09-25
MISSING PIECES by Joy Fielding
September 25, 2007
Amazon Rating: 4/5 stars
Here's another "can't put this down" book by Joy Fielding. In MISSING PIECES, family therapist Kate Sinclair has a family background that she is trying to forget. In chapter one, Kate's sister Jolynn tells everyone that she's going to marry Colin Friendly, who is making news at the moment for being a serial killer accused of raping and murdering women. Jolynn, who has never been known to make good choices when it comes to men, believes he's innocent, and is bent on going to the trial and finding a way to introduce herself.
Kate is flabbergasted and does not want to support her sister, but she ends up going to court with Jolynn anyway to witness this man who they find out is a charmer as well as very good looking. When the two go to court, Kate bumps into an old boyfriend, someone that she had been very much in love with, but had been dumped by him because she wouldn't put out, back when they were in high school. Robert now owns a radio station, courtesy of his wife's family, and he recognizes Kate and shows a renewed interest in her.
In the meantime, Kate is married and has a daughter, Sara, who seems to be following the same path of destruction just like her Aunt Jolynn. Kate is frustrated that she cannot control Sara's behavior, and it doesn't help that Sara idolizes her Aunt Jolynn who is as irresponsible and carefree as they come.
So, Kate is dealing with a troublesome teenage daughter, a sister who is destined to meet the wrong men, and now a mother who is living in a retirement home but is showing signs of Alzheimer's. It doesn't help that things at home with her husband aren't great, and Kate is now tempted to start something with Robert, a man that she thought she had loved years ago, and now has come back into her life.
MISSING PIECES, like some of Joy Fielding's previous books, has enough stuff going on that it reads like a soap opera. But it's also a type of book that you can't put down. The story is just too juicy. The main story line is that of Jolynn and her obsession with the serial killer, Colin Friendly, the man that she wants to marry and eventually does get to meet. She woos her way into Colin's life, and believe it or not they begin to see each other (behind bars, no less). The evidence shows that he is most likely guilty of the crimes he's being charged, but Jolynn insists that he's innocent, and will not listen to Kate's warnings.
But little by little, Kate picks up clues and hints that something isn't right, and while she hopes in the back of her mind that Jolynn is right, the more she gets to know Colin, the more worried she becomes. The ending had me on the edge of my seat, and while I think what happens may not be totally unexpected, I still found the book overall satisfying and worth the read. It was definitely one that kept me glued to the book, and I can see why I keep going back to Joy Fielding.
Very good-where would this dysfunctional family end?.......2007-06-09
Kate Sinclair is the main character in this book written mostly in the first person. She is a psychotherapist with many problems of her own in her family-that's for sure. And the worst thing is, she doesn't know how to solve her own. Her two daughters, Sara the belligerent one, is very very rebellious, while Michelle is the sweet and loving daughter. Sara is much like her aunt, Kate's sister, Jolynn who is beyond hope. Jolynn falls very hard for a serial killer, Colin Friendly, watching his trial take place in court. She immediately pines after this monster, and when he is found guilty and moved to Florida State Prison, travels all the way there once a week to visit him. They end up married in the prison chapel, and of course, Sara is the bridesmaid.
Kate is horror-struck by her older daughter and her sister with this whole scenario. And as if that is not enough, Kate's mother is coming down with Alzheimer's disease. She rapdily deteriorates, and has to move in with Kate and her family as she cannot be alone anymore.
On top of it all, Robert, Kate's old boyfriend from high school turns up and starts coming on to her. He's a reporter on the case for Colin, and this is how they connect. It seems an affair is on the horizon until Robert's wife pays Kate a visit to her office in order to find out about Robert.
The book climaxes when everything comes to a head and Colin escapes from prison, and Jolyn is missing. The last words she and Kate had were very bitter ones, and it may be too late to make amends.
Pure Entertainment.......2007-04-05
This improbable story is full of events that are so utterly unbelievable, you won't be able to help enjoying it. This book has great entertainment value.
I actually liked it.......2007-01-10
Clearly, I'm in the minority when I say that I enjoyed this book. Yes, it was incredibly improbable that any of these things happened, but hey, I read a book to escape from my boring, realistic life.
Although I will say that I found Kate increasingly annoying as a so called "therapist." I only have a Bachelors in Psychology, but come on, half of her decisions and thought processes are not realistic in someone who is highly educated in psychology and family therapy.
But anyway, I found it a real page turner, simply for the entertainment aspect.
A story of the sick, immoral, & divorced.......2006-03-02
"Women - Listen" No decent man goes with a school girl or especially a married woman just for what he can get into her! How can a person care enough for another that they are willing to brake up a family. Kate is supposed to be a good happily married woman but buys her husband an expensive Christmas gift because she has gotten the hots for a man she has met once in thirty years, refuses her husband in bed because all she can think about is the married man she knew thirty years ago, then acts offended when her husband asks if she is bedding the guy, lets one of her daughters run around with her sister who is nutty enough to have been married three times and then see's a rapeist, murdering maniac's cute picture in the newspaper and decides she is going to marry him, then goes to the trial with her. I have yet to figure out why women romance writers have to make their heroines a easy make for "any" aggressive man who puts the make on her, especiall if he is rich , over six feet, and built. I can only guess they are trying to make their female readers feel normal - God help us! Kates husband needs to grab their youngest daughter let the murderer & whoremonger have the others and run for his life.
Book Description
Ever since Darwin, animal behavior has intrigued and perplexed human observers. The elaborate mating rituals, lavish decorative displays, complex songs, calls, dances and many other forms of animal signaling raise fascinating questions. To what degree can animals communicate within their own species and even between species? What evolutionary purpose do such communications serve? Perhaps most importantly, what can animal signaling tell us about our own non-verbal forms of communication? In The Handicap Principle, Amotz and Ashivag Zahavi offer a unifying theory that brilliantly explains many previously baffling aspects of animal signaling and holds up a mirror in which ordinary human behaviors take on surprising new significance. The wide-ranging implications of the Zahavis' new theory make it arguably the most important advance in animal behavior in decades. Based on 20 years of painstaking observation, the Handicap Principle illuminates an astonishing variety of signaling behaviors in animals ranging from ants and ameba to peacocks and gazelles. Essentially, the theory asserts that for animal signals to be effective they must be reliable, and to be reliable they must impose a cost, or handicap, on the signaler. When a gazelle sights a wolf, for instance, and jumps high into the air several times before fleeing, it is signaling, in a reliable way, that it is in tip-top condition, easily able to outrun the wolf. (A human parallel occurs in children's games of tag, where faster children will often taunt their pursuer before running). By momentarily handicapping itself--expending precious time and energy in this display--the gazelle underscores the truthfulness of its signal. Such signaling, the authors suggest, serves the interests of both predator and prey, sparing each the exhaustion of a pointless chase. Similarly, the enormous cost a peacock incurs by carrying its elaborate and weighty tail-feathers, which interfere with food gathering, reliably communicates its value as a mate able to provide for its offspring. Perhaps the book's most important application of the Handicap Principle is to the evolutionary enigma of animal altruism. The authors convincingly demonstrate that when an animal acts altruistically, it handicaps itself--assumes a risk or endures a sacrifice--not primarily to benefit its kin or social group but to increase its own prestige within the group and thus signal its status as a partner or rival. Finally, the Zahavis' show how many forms of non-verbal communication among humans can also be explained by the Handicap Principle. Indeed, the authors suggest that non-verbal signals--tones of voice, facial expressions, body postures--are quite often more reliable indicators of our intentions than is language. Elegantly written, exhaustively researched, and consistently enlivened by equal measures of insight and example, The Handicap Principle illuminates virtually every kind of animal communication. It not only allows us to hear what animals are saying to each other--and to understand why they are saying it--but also to see the enormously important role non-verbal behavior plays in human communication.
Customer Reviews:
The full explanatory power of this book is unlikely to be accepted any time soon.......2007-02-11
In The Handicap Principle, the Zahavis have created a compelling case for a seemingly paradoxical revelation: Strength may only be demonstrated by showing vulnerability.
The simplest distillation of its central tenets is that interspecies or intraspecies communication must be costly in order to be meaningful. While it would be useful for any animal to be able to view another's cardiovascular health, the body provides few outright signals of its internal function ... or does it? Amazingly, many seemingly useless appendages like peacock's tails do precisely that. If a peacock can grow a perfectly symmetrical, useless tail, chances are it's in good physical health otherwise.
When we pause to try to determine which traits are considered beautiful, the likely candidates are those with no obvious survival value (long lustrous hair, unblemished skin, clear eyes, perfect teeth, symmetry, and artfully placed fat deposits). All of these traits are also the ones most vulnerable to parasites, and the first to fade in the event of poor health or old age. These are the last places an animal will put its nutritional resources if it was worried only about its daily survival. It is their very wastefulness that shows their value. While no one literally wears their hearts on their sleeves, our dermis is a fairly good proxy of our overall health. This is precisely because of its exceptional vulnerability.
Indeed, any time a scientist wants to test material properties, he or she usually has to break the sample that is being tested. It is only by showing vulnerability that true (breaking) strength can be gauged.
Thorstein Veblen's The Theory of the Leisure Class, published in 1899, and Nancy Etcoff's Survival of the Prettiest both form interesting companion pieces to this work. The Zahavis demonstrate that Veblen's concept of conspicuous consumption applies to the animal kingdom as well.
Just like The Origin of Species or The Selfish Gene, the Handicap principle is a theory that has yet to be proven. From a scientific perspective, however, a theory is far more than a guess. Theories can be judged primarily for their explanatory power, and all of these works provide considerable ammunition. While The Handicap Principle is by no means proven, it provides an amazing lens through which to view the world. You'll never look at animals (or yourself) the same way again.
Truly Fabulous!.......2003-07-15
I thought that the Zehavis' research and book was outstanding.
I feel this book and their theory is a must for any comprehensive review of the literature on altruism.
Interesting research.......2001-12-15
One problem with this book is that it refutes other forms of cooperative altruism such as reciprocal altruism instead of combining them with the theory and expanding upon them. The Handicap Principle is one of a few theories on explaining cooperative behavior in different species and the authors here give it a good starting point to their theory. It seems that several theories stemming from evolutionary research need to use the cooperation they often rave about and come together to overcome their flaws.
Best book on evolution in many years.......2000-05-19
Why does the peacock grow that tail? Why does the springbok leap straight up into the air when it sees a predator? Why do people behave heroically? The handicap principle answers these questions, eloquently, simply and with an overwhelming sense of conviction. The peacock is advertising his fitness. He is saying to the female in essence, I am so fit I can carry around this cumbersome adornment and still scratch out a very fine living. The springbok is saying to the predator: don't even think about going after me. I am in such good shape I can waste energy jumping up and down and still have plenty of reserves to outrun you. Save us both the bother and go after someone weaker. (By the way, the springbok jumps straight up instead of sideways because by jumping straight up its performance can be effectively judged by a predator from any direction.) And the man who dives into the swiftly flowing river to save a drowning child is actually advertising his fitness and improving his station in society. He is so fit he can take chances that others dare not. He's the man the women want to mate with.
The Handicap Principle thus is about signals, signals between prey and predator, between one sex and the other, and between the individual and the group. The purpose of these signals is to display in an unequivocal way the fitness of the signaler. Note that such signals have to be "fake proof." They have to be what the authors call "reliable." An animal that can't run fast and has limited resources of energy can't waste them jumping in the air. It needs to get going immediately or to stay hidden if it is to have any chance of survival. A man leads with his chin. That's a signal that he's confident. When men had beards it was a little dangerous to stick your chin out since the other guy might grab your beard and you could be in trouble. People demonstrate wealth by wasting money. This is a "reliable" (if ugly) signal because without an ample supply of money, you can't afford to waste it.
Part of the beauty of this book comes from the personality of the authors, who spent a large part of their lives studying little babbler birds in Israel. I feel I know these little social birds just from the loving descriptions in the text. One can see that even though the Zahavis made their discovery of the handicap principle in 1975 and waited almost two decades before it was generally accepted in the scientific community, they harbor no bitterness, nor is their tone at all gloating. They come across as hard-working field scientists who love their work and nature.
Besides being full of exciting and original ideas, The Handicap Principle is also extremely well written. Each sentence is clear and to the point without the burden of unnecessary jargon or the wordy clumsiness sometimes found in such books. Amotz and Avishag Zahavi took great pride in effectively communicating their ideas to a wide audience. Additionally there are scores of exquisite, loving little black and white drawings by illustrator Amir Balaban of animals, birds, insects and people, etc., illuminating the text.
If you're interested in evolutionary theory, this is a book not to be missed. As Jared Diamond says on the cover, "Read this fine book, and discover what the excitement is all about."
I loved it, insightful, entertaining, astounding........1998-05-06
This very readable book covers a wide range of biological behavior, and really demonstrates the reality of the Handicap Principle. Not only am I convinced of its truth, but now understand much more about human behavior than before.
Book Description
Watch out! The Timberline twins are on the loose. Bryce and Ashley are ATV-riding tweens from Colorado who unearth action-packed mystery and adventure wherever they go. From clearing the name of a local miscreant to thwarting a gold-stealing heist, the twins' growing faith and the strong example of their parents guide them through even the most life-threatening situations. With the trademark page-turner style used by Jerry Jenkins and Chris Fabry in the Left Behind: The Kids series, these fast-paced books will keep even reluctant readers on the edge of their seats. Readers will definitely get hooked by the unbelievable cliff-hanger at the end of book one, Haunted Waters. Perfect for ages 8-12.
Customer Reviews:
Non-stop reading fun!.......2005-06-24
My 11 year-old daughter recently acquired the first four installments of this new series. She picked one up on a recent morning, and by the time I returned home for dinner she had finished reading all four books! She wondered if we could get more!
These books are well written, engaging, and reflect values every parent will appreciate. I can trust these authors to deliver good story lines and believable characters - they have done so in the past, and have done it again with this series.
Reminds me of my childhood summer days, engrossed in a good book. Thanks, guys!
Book Description
The personal odyssey of a man with a disability, this passionate book tries to tell as well as analyze what it is like to have a disability in a world that values vigor and health. Zola writes,
"Missing Pieces is an unraveling of a social problem in the manner of Black Like Me. Like its author, I, too, am a trained social observer, but for me 'passing' was not an issue. For I already have the stigmata of the disabled—the braces, the limp, the cane—though I have spent much of my life denying their existence."
The author started out in the role of a social scientist on a seven-day excursion to acquaint himself with an extraordinary experiment in living—Het Dorp, one of the few places in the world designed to promote "the optimum happiness" of those with severe physical disabilities. Neither a medial center nor a nursing home, Het Dorp is a village in the western-most part of the Netherlands. What began as a sociological attempt to describe this unusual setting became, through the author's growing awareness, what can only be called a socio-autobiography.
Resuming his prior dependence on a wheelchair, the author experienced his own transformation from someone who is "normal" and "valid" to someone who is "invalid." The routine of Het Dorp became his: he lived in an architecturally modified home, visited the workshops, and shared meals, social events, conversation, and perceptions with the remarkably diverse residents.
The author confronts some rarely discussed issues—the self-image of a person with a chronic disability, how one fills one's time, how one deals with authority and dependence, and love and sex.
Missing Pieces offers striking insights into an aspect of the human condition shared by nearly 30 million Americans. It is must reading for the general reader, as well as for the rehabilitation counselor, social worker, or social scientist.
Books:
- Horse Miracles: Inspirational True Tales of Remarkable Horses
- How to Do Good After Prison : A Handbook for the "Committed Man"
- How To Open Locks With Improvised Tools: Practical, Non-Destructive Ways Of Getting Back Into Just About Everything When You Lose Your Keys (formerly published as Lock Bypass Methods)
- How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong: A Road Map for Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs
- How to See Yourself As You Really Are
- Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster
- Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices
- Juice Fasting And Detoxification: Use the Healing Power of Fresh Juice to Feel Young and Look Great
- Justice for All: Earl Warren and the Nation He Made
- Lasting Light: 125 Years of Grand Canyon Photography
Books Index
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