The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead

Book Description

The Zombie Survival Guide is your key to survival against the hordes of undead who may be stalking you right now. Fully illustrated and exhaustively comprehensive, this book covers everything you need to know, including how to understand zombie physiology and behavior, the most effective defense tactics and weaponry, ways to outfit your home for a long siege, and how to survive and adapt in any territory or terrain.

Top 10 Lessons for Surviving a Zombie Attack

1. Organize before they rise!
2. They feel no fear, why should you?
3. Use your head: cut off theirs.
4. Blades don’t need reloading.
5. Ideal protection = tight clothes, short hair.
6. Get up the staircase, then destroy it.
7. Get out of the car, get onto the bike.
8. Keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, keep alert!
9. No place is safe, only safer.
10. The zombie may be gone, but the threat lives on.

Don’t be carefree and foolish with your most precious asset—life. This book is your key to survival against the hordes of undead who may be stalking you right now without your even knowing it. The Zombie Survival Guide offers complete protection through trusted, proven tips for safeguarding yourself and your loved ones against the living dead. It is a book that can save your life.

Customer Reviews:

So Dry It Cracks Me Up.......2007-10-19

Max Brooks seems to do research just as well as any author out there, especially in `World War Z'. The laughs, however, in ZSG are quadruple those of `WWZ', due to Brooks' superior deadpan writing style. I would have given anything to be able to see the look on his face as he wrote some of his prose.

Ostensibly, the book sets out to be a `true' survival manual, and the author does a great job of not breaking the fourth wall, because doing so would render all of his efforts in creating the `Zombie Survival Guide' meaningless and pitiable.

However, with Brooks' earnestness, you can't help but love all of the tips given for the sake of survival. My favorite: Blades don't need reloading. Some of the other parody how-to books seem to fail because of a false sense of bravado or some other thing.

What really helps Max Brooks, though, is the fact that he really appears to care about keeping the integrity of the book as true as possible. This book isn't for fans of `Scary Movie'. This book is the `Catch-22' of survival guides. Think about it.

Well, now I'm prepared!.......2007-09-24

I bought this book after flipping through it a little, mainly for the humor value. I didn't think it would consist of much more than that. How wrong I was. I started reading it, and ended up reading the whole book cover to cover. The way the author presents everything, it really makes you believe that a zombie outbreak could happen at any time. The subject is treated as seriously as any other survival manual would be (which actually adds to the humor). So many great tips are offered, such as what types of buildings make the best strongholds, what weapons are best (and worst), and what types of environment offers the best protection. The "real life accounts" section adds to the realism of the book, and is actually quite creepy in some places. After reading this manual, you will have all the knowledge you will need to get yourself prepared for a zombie outbreak.

Zombies cool down.......2007-09-21

I'm nuts about Zombies and suggest that anyone who can't get enough of these books should read World War Z and The Zen of Zombie. You won't be disappointed.

Very good........2007-09-14

This Zombie Survival guide is fun to read and is very entertaining. It explains how to survive a zombie outbreak, how to fortify your home, what kind of weapons to use, and a lot more! I highly recommend this book. It's good for zombie lovers, and those who'd like to get a thrill. Buy this book- it's good.

Interesting Read.......2007-09-07

I would highly recommend this "survival guide" for the like minded individuals. It will truly expand your imagination.

Average customer rating:

ONE MORE THING...
Amazingly Detailed
Terrifying (but sometimes tedious)
Not Simmons' best
Absolutely Amazing!

The Terror: A Novel
Dan Simmons
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Horror Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0316017442

Book Description

The bestselling author of Ilium and Olympos transforms thetrue story of a legendary Arctic expedition into a thriller worthy ofStephen King or Patrick O'Brian. Their captain's insane vision of a Northwest Passage has kept the crewmenof The Terror trapped in Arctic ice for two years without a thaw. But thereal threat to their survival isn't the ever-shifting landscape of white,the provisions that have turned to poison before they open them, or theship slowly buckling in the grip of the frozen ocean. The real threat iswhatever is out in the frigid darkness, stalking their ship, snatching oneseaman at a time or whole crews, leaving bodies mangled horribly or missingforever. Captain Crozier takes over the expedition after the creature kills itsoriginal leader, Sir John Franklin. Drawing equally on his own strengths asa seaman and the mystical beliefs of the Eskimo woman he's rescued, Croziersets a course on foot out of the Arctic and away from the insatiable beast.But every day the dwindling crew becomes more deranged and mutinous, untilCrozier begins to fear there is no escape from an ever-more-inconceivablenightmare.

Customer Reviews:

ONE MORE THING..........2007-10-08

I agree 100% with the 5-star reviews already submitted but would like to add one thing that seems to have been played down a bit: this book is bloody TERRIFYING!

Amazingly Detailed.......2007-10-03

You have to admire the sheer amount of research that went into this novel, because after reading this book I guarantee that Dan Simmons knows every bit of maritime trivia, every conceivable thing about living in the arctic, and enough Esquimaux mythology to boggle the mind. The story is that of Captain Crozier, who commands one of two ships on a doomed mission to find the northwest passage. Early in the expedition, the ships become frozen into pack ice, stranding the captain and crew. This leads to many problems, including the inevitable accidents, starvation, disease, mutanies, etc. In and of itself, that would be enough to doom any expedition. However, it gets much worse than that -- there's this monster out there on the ice that has an unstoppable desire to kill Crozier's crew in the most sadistic ways possible. The story isn't so much about the creature as it is about the crew's ability (or inability) to deal with the situation. I have to warn you though, this story is long. There are more than a few times when I was hoping it would simply hurry up and get on with it.

Terrifying (but sometimes tedious).......2007-09-30

I enjoyed both the horror and the historical aspects of this book. Unlike some reviewers, I thought Simmons melded those styles and approaches together well. And there were so many characters, so well developed. Half of the enjoyment here, for me, was in learning about the characters and wondering what they would do next, how they would react in the various situations that confronted them. Also, it was just straight-out terrifying to imagine being in some of those situations.

All of that said, occasionally I thought the writing was a little slow and tedious and I probably even skimmed parts. But then, I'm impatient.

Not Simmons' best.......2007-09-27

After the sun-lit world of Olympos, Simmons plunges his readers into his darkest material at least since Carrion Comfort. That in itself is not necessarily a problem, but there is an issue with the way the novel is being billed.

It is NOT a historical novel with a metaphorical element of horror. It is a HORROR novel that happens to have a historical setting.

Again, not in itself a problem. But Simmons himself seems to have difficulty deciding which kind of a novel he's writing, so the historical elements place constraints on the story that keep it from having a fully satisfying plot, while the horror elements introduce things that are historically ridiculous.

After Olympos, Terror's Hobbesian theme is stunningly bleak. But then, life WOULD be nasty, brutish, short, etc. if one were on an early 19th-century Arctic expedition whose captain made astonishingly bad decisions based on an irrational faith that God would see them through--or if one were an Inuit of that time. So the final Rousseau-like chapters romanticizing the "noble Inuit" are particularly strange. Simmons is inordinately impressed with the only two things the Inuit could do: build igloos, which really isn't that hard (I did it as a boy scout at age thirteen or so, though mine no doubt lacked the mathematical symmetry of those Simmons describes, though it's not as if the Inuit, lacking a system of writing, could actually have grasped the higher mathematics of what they were supposedly doing); and hunting seal, which, well, they'd pretty much HAVE to be good at. (None of this is meant to belittle or morally criticize the Inuit of the time, as given their circumstances, it would have been near impossible for them to advance much beyond that.)

Also, Simmons has already done the "what if their primitive mythology were true?" bit in Fires of Eden, with the much more entertaining Hawaiian mythology, and unhampered by claims of historicity.

Still, Simmons' style here is beautiful, and many of the characters are among the best he's created, so it's certainly worth a read, like everything else he's written.

Absolutely Amazing!.......2007-09-26

Quite honestly, I bought this book as a gift for my son in law, but, being momentarily out of reading material, decided to tackle the volume myself. And I was gob-smacked. The amount of research that had to have gone into this book is simply unimaginable. And, Dan Simmons has somehow managed to turn blank historical figures into real people with real problems. He has breathed life and depth into an expedition that still remains enigmatic. And, boy, did he do his homework. Real history is so much more interesting than fiction. We are talking here about an expedition into the arctic some 160 years ago, fuelled by coal and tinned foods and not much more. These guys definitely didn't know what they were getting into and suffered greatly for that lack of knowledge. I trust Dan Simmons. Well, I've read his other books. I trust that his search for the facts has been rigorous and absolute, and that he has endeavoured, and very successfully, to interweave those facts with the ficticious personas of his characters. In doing this, he has written an absolutely incredible book, extremely readable and continuously fascinating. He has kept, without any judgement, within the mores, the cultural values of that time, and that is also fascinating.
I greatly applaud this book and the man who wrote it. To have been able to create such a tale, interwoven with a cumbersome amount of detail and enhanced true characters is indeed a feat worth applause. And, man, it is just really interesting. Not since The Swarm has a book captivated me to this extent.

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

Wonderful contemporary mythology story :-)
The Sea of Monsters
THE SEA OF MONSTERS
Wow. . .what an ending!
Percy's Odyssey is another fantastic trip into modern Greek myth

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2)
Rick Riordan
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Adventure & Thrillers | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1423103343
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Book Description

Percy Jackson's seventh-grade year has been surprisingly quiet. Not a single monster has set foot on his New York prep-school campus. But when an innocent game of dodgeball among Percy and his classmates turns into a death match against an ugly gang of cannibal giants, things get . . . well, ugly. And the unexpected arrival of Percy's friend Annabeth brings more bad news: the magical borders that protect Camp Half-Blood have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and unless a cure is found, the only safe haven for demigods will be destroyed.In this fresh, funny, and hugely anticipated follow up to The Lightning Thief, Percy and his friends must journey into the Sea of Monsters to save their beloved camp. But first, Percy will discover a stunning new secret about his family -- one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful contemporary mythology story :-).......2007-10-19

I am reading the series to my seventh grade students. They are fascinated by the story and the wonderful inclusion of the Greek gods and goddesses and other minor mythological characters. Truly a great way to start the class with my students. (Personally, I enjoyed reading the book at home, too, and I am considerably older than my seventh graders!)

The Sea of Monsters.......2007-10-10

This book is a winner. My nine year old daughter loved this whole series and wouldn't leave me alone until I got her the 2nd (and ultimately the 3rd) book. She loved the hidden twists and turns to the story. She thought the book was quite exciting. She reads one to two 100+ books a week and this is her Favorite series, by far, of all the books she has read. She likes the mix of ancient mythology and action.

THE SEA OF MONSTERS.......2007-10-06

The Sea of Monster's was a thrilling book that is appropriate for young adults and adults. It was action packed and clever.:)Anyone who is interested in greek mythology would thoroughly enjoy this book. I'm looking forward to reading the 3rd book, and have already ordered it!!!!

Wow. . .what an ending!.......2007-09-28

This is a fabulous sequel to Riordan's first book. It is full of action, adventure, and it sparks some curiosity about future events. . . not to mention the ending will wow you!

Percy's Odyssey is another fantastic trip into modern Greek myth.......2007-09-13

In the second book of the modern Greek-mythological Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, Percy discovers that Camp Half-Blood is in danger as their borders are weakening. Even worse, his cross-dressing satyr best friend Grover is in danger of getting married. Percy, his friend and daughter of Athena, go on a quest to save Grover and retrieve the Golden Fleece, doing a great impression of Odysseus along the way. While the book isn't as imaginative and strong as the first in the series, it continues Riordan's witty prose and clever updating of Greek mythology and Greek hero quests (I just go geek for that stuff). Percy's issues with his absent father are compounded with the discovery and shame of his half-brother. Percy's father-issues reflect a very grown up issue: that of feeling abandoned by our God. At heart, this intelligent series isn't just about the greater and universal truths of Greek mythology and the problems of identity and growing up, but about family and the bonds of blood, even the most dysfunctional family in history: that of the ancient Greek divinity. Grade: A-

The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Average customer rating:

Good but could have been better
More fun than humans deserve to have!
Slightly misleading book picture but good book.
Beautiful logic
Flying fun readig romp

The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
Bobby Henderson
Manufacturer: Villard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Essays | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Satire, General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Religion | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Comic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0812976568
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Book Description

CAN I GET A “RAMEN” FROM THE CONGREGATION?!

Behold the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM), today’s fastest growing carbohydrate-based religion. According to church founder Bobby Henderson, the universe and all life within it were created by a mystical and divine being: the Flying Spaghetti Monster. What drives the FSM’s devout followers, a.k.a. Pastafarians? Some say it’s the assuring touch from the FSM’s “noodly appendage.” Then there are those who love the worship service, which is conducted in pirate talk and attended by congregants in dashing buccaneer garb. Still others are drawn to the Church’s flimsy moral standards, religious holidays every Friday, or the fact that Pastafarian heaven is way cooler: Does your heaven have a Stripper Factory and a Beer Volcano? Intelligent Design has finally met its match–and it has nothing to do with apes or the Olive Garden of Eden.

Within these pages, Bobby Henderson outlines the true facts– dispelling such malicious myths as evolution (“only a theory”), science (“only a lot of theories”), and whether we’re really descended from apes (fact: Humans share 95 percent of their DNA with chimpanzees, but they share 99.9 percent with pirates!)

Customer Reviews:

Good but could have been better.......2007-10-21

Really enjoyed reading the book. The first half was great, but after a while it got a little repetetive. I highly recommend this book for it's humor and originality.

More fun than humans deserve to have!.......2007-10-05

Which proves that FSM is a good diety! The gospel is good news for those who need to have an enjoyable and loveable higher power. The proof by communion is so clearly acceptable that I can't imagine not being able to accept His Noodleiness for what He is! May his noodly appendage allow you to enjoy this book as much as He allowed me to!

Slightly misleading book picture but good book........2007-10-01

I was kind of disappointed to find that it was not actually the red/orange book like many bibles but a white paperback with the picture of the gospel on itThat is why i gave it 4 Stars for being misleading not book content. Not a big deal but it would look cooler / more impressive if it was.
Still consider it a good buy for a funny read.

Beautiful logic.......2007-09-23

This book is both hilarious and a great read to point out the flawed logic of one's own religious arguments, in that it uses the same wonderful logic that the most fundamental of them use.

Flying fun readig romp.......2007-09-22

This book is so much fun to read. It is a hoot and a half. Many of the punny funnys had me in stitches. This is a book I may leave out as it is made so you can read little bits at a time. Still funny the fifth time reading some bits. Laughter is the best medicine and this item is a great dose of medicine. FSM rocks!!!...**

Average customer rating:

Classic Story
wild
Classic
Still As Good
Timeless Tale Is Sheer Magic!

Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak
Manufacturer: Harper Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover Comic

Bedtime & Dreaming | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Staff Favorites | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Monsters | Obsessions | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Accessories:

Franklin KID240 Speaking Homework Wiz

ASIN: 0060254920
Release Date: 2003-01-21

Product Description

The 1964 Caldecott Medal Winner for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year by Maurice Sendak. Brian O'Doherty of The New York Times said the Mr. Sendak's work "disguised in fantasy, springs from his earliest self, from the vagrant child that lurks in the heart of all of us."

Amazon.com

Where the Wild Things Are is one of those truly rare books that can be enjoyed equally by a child and a grown-up. If you disagree, then it's been too long since you've attended a wild rumpus. Max dons his wolf suit in pursuit of some mischief and gets sent to bed without supper. Fortuitously, a forest grows in his room, allowing his wild rampage to continue unimpaired. Sendak's color illustrations (perhaps his finest) are beautiful, and each turn of the page brings the discovery of a new wonder.

The wild things--with their mismatched parts and giant eyes--manage somehow to be scary-looking without ever really being scary; at times they're downright hilarious. Sendak's defiantly run-on sentences--one of his trademarks--lend the perfect touch of stream of consciousness to the tale, which floats between the land of dreams and a child's imagination.

This Sendak classic is more fun than you've ever had in a wolf suit, and it manages to reaffirm the notion that there's no place like home.

Customer Reviews:

Classic Story.......2007-10-19

I am a Love and Logic trainer for parents and I frequently tell them that not one child has ever died from missing a meal....but many parents have come close to dying from worrying about it. Where the Wild Things Are proves that Max's mom couldn't let him go to bed without his supper.

This book has been around since 1963 and the art work changed sometime in the 1980's I believe. Maurice Sendak is a talented artist and writer. It is a book you can read over and over and over again....just ask my children who are now in their late 20's.

wild.......2007-10-17

It was a favorite with my children and now I am reading it to my grandchild...it's wonderful.

Classic.......2007-10-16

This is truly a childhood classic that every parent should buy for their child. Very imaginative storytelling!

Still As Good.......2007-09-26

I grew up just loving this book. I think it havd more influence on my imagination than any other book.

I recently had a son and purchased this book to read with him and it is just as entertaining after all these years.

Timeless Tale Is Sheer Magic!.......2007-09-19

What child hasn't dreamed of being a wild animal, untamed and free? Of having no boundaries or restrictions?

In the magical world of a young boy's imagination, a wonderland can blossom. Sent to bed without supper for misbehaving, the unrepentant and spirited Max lets his imagination soar. His bedroom transformed into an exotic wilderness, Max sets sail across a deep blue sea to where the "wild things" are. After taming all of these fearsome monsters (turns out, he's the wildest of them all), the newly crowned "king of all wild things" leads them on quite a romp....until the lonely boy decides to return to the place where he is loved.

This journey into imagination is wonderful, whimsical and extraordinary. Small wonder that "Wild Things" was named the Caldecott Medal Winner for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year in 1964. Author/Illustrator Maurice Sendak has created a timeless classic - one which will always be among my personal favorites.

Average customer rating:

New perspective
Religious
The Gospel of Judas: Fascinating and Controversial
An Interesting Dip Into Unknown Waters
Hmmmmm....

The Gospel of Judas

Manufacturer: National Geographic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Byzantine | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

History | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1426200420
Release Date: 2006-04-06

Book Description

For 1,600 years its message lay hidden. When the bound papyrus pages of this lost gospel finally reached scholars who could unlock its meaning, they were astounded. Here was a gospel that had not been seen since the early days of Christianity, and which few experts had even thought existed–a gospel told from the perspective of Judas Iscariot, history’s ultimate traitor. And far from being a villain, the Judas that emerges in its pages is a hero.

In this radical reinterpretation, Jesus asks Judas to betray him. In contrast to the New Testament Gospels, Judas Iscariot is presented as a role model for all those who wish to be disciples of Jesus. He is the one apostle who truly understands Jesus.

This volume is the first publication of the remarkable gospel since it was condemned as heresy by early Church leaders, most notably by St. Irenaeus, in 180. Hidden away in a cavern in Middle Egypt, the codex (or book) containing the gospel was discovered by farmers in the 1970s. In the intervening years the papyrus codex was bought and sold by antiquities traders, hidden away, and carried across three continents, all the while suffering damage that reduced much of it to fragments. In 2001, it finally found its way into the hands of a team of experts who would painstakingly reassemble and restore it.

The Gospel of Judas has been translated from its original Coptic in clear prose, and is accompanied by commentary that explains its fascinating history in the context of the early Church, offering a whole new way of understanding the message of Jesus Christ.

Customer Reviews:

New perspective.......2007-10-20

If you ever wondered why G_D would condemn Judas when "his actions" were actually necessary in the "greater scheme of things", this book offers another perspective. I find this version a bit easier to accept.

Religious.......2007-09-17

After reading this book and knowing what I know from many gospels, I
find this book very hard to believe. It just is far to away from all
the other gospels out there. I have read the "Other Bible" and many
of the gospels not found in the Bible of today, but none talk like the
gospel of Judas. I do not know who actually wrote this book, but I
would not put a whole lot of faith in it as truth. Why would Jesus
want to be crucifed in order to go back to the spirit world. I can
think of a lot of ways to kill yourself that are less painful. To
think Jesus wanted Judas to turn him in, so that he could be killed,
so he could go back to heaven, is just plain stupid. Jesus could
have just drank poison to do that. No one would ask for such a
painful death as crucifixion.

The Gospel of Judas: Fascinating and Controversial.......2007-09-03

A Review of The Gospel of Judas, edited by Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst, with comments by Bart D. Ehrman. (Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2006).

Humankind is often left with evolved systems of belief and organized religion, which are the products of those who have had the greatest political power. This is undoubtedly the case with Western Christianity. As recent discoveries have unequivocally shown, many alternate versions and constructs of today's multifaceted Christian heritage have been silenced or vilified over the ages. The Nag Hammadi Library, discovered in the late 1940's, brings to light some of these long forgotten and contested versions. Careful study of these and other documents demonstrate the great diversity of thought and conflicting testimonials, exhibited by earliest followers of Jesus. There has also been a trail of conflict and difficulty regarding scholarly and universal access to the Library for a good number of years.

With the access to an unquestionably authentic Coptic document called the Gospel of Judas, scholars again have the ability to explore historical diversity. Initial scholarly analysis has just surfaced in a recent book published under the auspices of National Geographic. This work, compiled by Kasser, et. al. is obviously written for the general public, although annotations and endnotes bring it to the depth of academic study usually shared by Early Christian Studies experts. Judas, the traditionally portrayed betrayer of Jesus, is presented in this lost Gospel as the handmaiden of salvation. However, it is not a salvation directed toward enabling the sacrifice of Jesus. In the contemporary version of Christianity with us today, Jesus dies to free men from their sins and therefore, to win the possibility of eternal life for those believers in and followers of his teachings. Rather, in this Gospel, Judas enables the soul of Jesus, a divine entity in human guise, to rid itself of its "mortal coil," and to rejoin with the highest, unnamable divine entity beyond this world.

The mythology of this particular Gospel is charged with a form of proto-Gnosticism: a term which conjures up debate among scholars, because it has been primarily defined through attacks by heresy seekers from the early, organized church. Gnosticism is a term derived from the sense of knowing as in "being aware" or enlightened. As one piece of the evolutionary puzzle, this Gospel shows the use of Sethian Gnosticism in early Christian thinking and how this thinking relates to evolving Jewish beliefs and to Greek writings (both Neo and Middle-Platonic).

To move this term from Platonism and to "Christianize it" within the Gospel of Judas (as Dr. Meyer writes) is to see the point Jesus makes in the Gospel: we are not the bodies we are in; nor are we defined by our existence in a mortal and often corrupt world. Rather, to know in the depths of our soul that we are mirrors of the divine is to know our true nature. Judas alone understands this and aids Jesus in his quest to reach his divinity by handing Jesus over to be killed. The other disciples do not understand this, and therefore cannot do what Jesus has asked of Judas.

Parallel to the publication of the Kasser book is a rather "polemic" review written by Dr. James Robinson. Robinson's critique is both critical and troubling. According to Robinson, as with the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Library, document dealers, middlemen and scholars have not always been as forthright as one would hope. Robinson contends that National Geographic and the editors of The Gospel of Judas seem to gloss over questions of proper legal ownership by Frieda Tchacos, whose name now labels the Judas Gospel and three other manuscripts ("Codex Tchacos"). The Maecenas Foundation, which currently holds the manuscript, may also have had intentions more directed at profit than preservation. These and other circumstances, Robinson claims, have limited the accessibility of this discovery.

As they broadcast their findings, and as scholars assist one another in the universal quest for knowledge, some things seem to fall short in the intensive drive to procure rare manuscripts. It is often difficult to secure a manuscript from a seller, especially when confounding circumstances may often result in its slipping away. This manuscript surfaced in 1983, and scholars are both critical and defensive about interactions surrounding it then, as they are now. Maltreatment of the manuscript by greedy and ignorant handlers almost destroyed the Judas Gospel. Knowing document fragility and how dealers can keep works out of reach, scholars are often hard pressed, whenever a document surfaces, to do all they can to get the work into safe keeping, before it is invariably destroyed. What drives any scholar, we would hope, is first and foremost, proper stewardship. In the real world, the best and most ethical approach to procurement often requires compromise.

The reader, who senses the undercurrent of frustration by any and all scholars during this document's long history of neglect and evasion, should credit all (current critics and scholars alike) with a driving desire and effort to get the truth of the manuscript out where it belongs. For their best efforts in a long history of difficult circumstances, all deserve our gratitude.

An Interesting Dip Into Unknown Waters.......2007-08-23

This book, edited by Kasser, Meyer and Wurst, seemed fairly repetitive, given the limited amount of material they had to work with; however, it does add to our knowledge of early Christianity. Whether it holds up to scholarly scrutiny however, remains to be seen......

Hmmmmm...........2007-07-03

I will give this 4 stars since it was very well written; however, I still feel it is missing a piece of the puzzle. How could there have been time for Judas to have developed a following in order for someone to have written "the gospel of Judas", when he killed himself shortly after betraying Jesus? He certainly didn't write it, as it was written after he died. I'm a big fan of the Gnostic Gospels, but this one doesn't make sense. Again, very well researched and written, but...

Monster Manual: Core Rulebook III (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)

Average customer rating:

EXCELLENT SERVICE!!!
Fun Nerdom
Fine Book
VERY GOOD
nice rework of the classic

Monster Manual: Core Rulebook III (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)

Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 078692893X
Release Date: 2003-07-01

Book Description

Fearsome and formidable foes lurk within. Encounter a horde of monsters armed and ready to battle your boldest heroes or fight alongside them. The fully illustrated pages of this book are overrun with all the creatures, statistics, spells, and strategies you need to challenge the heroic characters of any Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.

Over 200 creeps, critters, and creatures keep players on their toes. From aboleths to zombies, the revised Monster Manual holds a diverse cast of enemies and allies essential for any Dungeons & Dragons campaign. There are hundreds of monsters ready for action, including many new creatures never seen before. The revised Monster Manual now contains an adjusted layout that makes monster statistics easier to understand and use. It has 31 new illustrations and a new index, and contains expanded information on monster classes and playing monsters as heroes, along with information on how to take full advantage of the tie-in D&D miniatures line planned for the fall of 2003 from Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENT SERVICE!!!.......2007-06-15

Everything was here faster than all other orders and in great shape!!!

Fun Nerdom.......2007-05-25

If you like D&D this book will be plain old nerdy fun. For the best monsters to fight and funtastic battles this is a good one.

I bought this book for my boyfriend's 25th birthday. He wants to try his hand at DM-ing a game this summer and of course you'll need a monster manual. Ah, the memories.

Fine Book.......2007-05-10

This book is a work of art, and that's just looking at the text. The monsters are much easier to use, with details like their flatfooted AC and their grappling bonus included in their stats. The only thing bad I can say about this book is they removed the two pieces of Elmore art. Maybe they thought it made the other art look bad by comparison.

VERY GOOD.......2007-01-27

this book offers many creative monsters and also a lot of new monster rules too.

nice rework of the classic.......2007-01-12

This is a nice rework for the 3.5 rules. The classic monster manual is an essential for D20 gaming, not much they could do to ruin it. My only complaint is that the binding could have been done better, why make a reference manual that can't stand up to the page flipping a reference book will be subjected to? If you go to your local used book store you'll find monster manuals from 15 years ago that have a better binding than the current ones being produced, that's just cheap and lame of WOTC.

Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths

Average customer rating:

great little book
Especially great book for those young readers, interested in Greek Mythology
Imagination grabber
Greek Mythology
greek

Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths
Bernard Evslin
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0553259202
Release Date: 1984-09-01

Book Description

The earth breeds giants and ogres of indescribable horror -- the heavens hold omnipotent gods and goddesses, abounding in courage, strength and wisdom.

Zeus, the almighty king of the gods, who cannot resist feminine beauty -- mortal or divine, and his jealous and vengeful wife, Hera.

Perseus, fearless mortal warrior, who takes on an impossible challenge: slaying the monstrous Medusa, whose glance turns men to stone.

The Minotaur, half-man and half-bull, the horrible fruit of a queen's unspeakable desire, who annually destroys the young victims sacrificed to his terrifying power.

A fantastic world of spells and curses, magic and mystery, forces that create and destroy at will.

Customer Reviews:

great little book.......2007-06-08

If you like greek mytholoy, but you're not an expert, this is good staring point. it is very clear, and the histories are very fun to read

Especially great book for those young readers, interested in Greek Mythology.......2007-05-13

This book is full of stories of Heroes, Gods and Monsters, wonderfully written for easy reading and comprehension. A great book for anyone, especially young readers looking for stories that will open their minds to a world of magic and mystery.

Imagination grabber.......2007-05-08

Great book to get your childs imagination going. The information on Greek Mythology is addictive where you wont want to put the book down, until you've read the whole thing.

Greek Mythology.......2007-03-15

I found this book quite informing. If anyone has an interest in Greek Mythology, this book has it all. The stories are detailed and wonderfully written.

greek.......2007-01-12

the book was ok but i think there was alot left out the god of war, ares and the hero,hercules, which is the most famous of all. i think there could of been more added.

Average customer rating:

Guilty until proven innocent
A book of monstrous creativity
Guilty or Innocent?
Monster Critique
So-so

Monster
Walter Dean Myers
Manufacturer: Amistad
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Violence | Social Issues | Teens | Subjects | Books

General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Popular Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Book Clubs | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0064407314
Release Date: 2004-12-14

Amazon.com

"Monster" is what the prosecutor called 16-year-old Steve Harmon for his supposed role in the fatal shooting of a convenience-store owner. But was Steve really the lookout who gave the "all clear" to the murderer, or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time? In this innovative novel by Walter Dean Myers, the reader becomes both juror and witness during the trial of Steve's life. To calm his nerves as he sits in the courtroom, aspiring filmmaker Steve chronicles the proceedings in movie script format. Interspersed throughout his screenplay are journal writings that provide insight into Steve's life before the murder and his feelings about being held in prison during the trial. "They take away your shoelaces and your belt so you can't kill yourself no matter how bad it is. I guess making you live is part of the punishment."

Myers, known for the inner-city classic Motown and Didi (first published in 1984), proves with Monster that he has kept up with both the struggles and the lingo of today's teens. Steve is an adolescent caught up in the violent circumstances of an adult world--a situation most teens can relate to on some level. Readers will no doubt be attracted to the novel's handwriting-style typeface, emphasis on dialogue, and fast-paced courtroom action. By weaving together Steve's journal entries and his script, Myers has given the first-person voice a new twist and added yet another worthy volume to his already admirable body of work. (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

FADE IN: INTERIOR: Early morning in CELL BLOCK D, MANHATTAN DETENTION CENTER.

Steve (Voice-Over)
Sometimes I feel like I have walked into the middle of a movie. Maybe I can make my own movie. The film will be the story of my life. No, not my life, but of this experience. I'll call it what the lady prosecutor called me ... Monster.

Customer Reviews:

Guilty until proven innocent.......2007-10-17

I had the pleasure of reading this book for my literature class for the past couple of weeks. The plot was believable because there are so many situations where the innocent are punished for the crimes of others. Steve is a young boy who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
During the trial you have a chance to get into his head. He is just a scared little boy who was forced to grow up because he knew someone involved in a crime. His lawyer doesn't believe that he is innocent but she tries the case as if she does. It's amazing what people will do to win.
The irony of his xwhole situation is that had he dnot been standing trial for felony murder, she would never have been allowed into the prison. The novel is written as a screenplay with little journal entries added along the way. It does a great job of placing you right in the middle of the court room. You feel what Steve feels throughout the entire story. His fear of being convicted and spending the rest of his life in prison is very real.
The pain that his parents experience when the have to visit their sixteen year old son in jail is something that I would not wish on my worst enemy. Monster is a scary look at a very real problem in our justice system. Sometime people fall through the cracks.

A book of monstrous creativity.......2007-10-17

Monster, By Walter Dean Myers is a well thought out and well planned novel demonstrating the struggles of a colored teen boy in Harlem. The novels plot is one that is easy to follow as well as clear and realistic; however, in a way it is a slow plot made to be simple.
This novel tells the story of a sixteen year old boy named Steven Harmon who is on trial for murdering a store owner when a robbery went bad. Stevens story progresses with the trial and it moves at a slow pace, making it hard for the reader to stay intrigued at times. Subplots are used to contribute well to the overall theme of the novel and encourage the reader to continue. The slow moving atmosphere of the story makes it difficult to maintain the reader's attention but the pacing does match the genre of the novel. It is not an adventure novel, it is a story written to be dramatic and realistically depict the stereotypes and struggles of today's people with the law.
Myers did not include many details in this novel and this fact can either be detrimental to its impact, or it can amplify it by unspeakable measures. The reader must have an independent imagination in order to comprehend and have true interest in this novel. Although there is a lack of details, the dialogue contributes to successfully developing realistic and believable characters that the reader can relate to as well as creating some sort of setting which the reader can expand upon when reading.
The dialogue and the rhythm of the words changes as the scenes change along with the people speaking. This helps the reader to distinguish between the characters and to find the story more convincing as well as realistic. In today's society people speak in many different ways with many different accents, Myers includes these speech diversities and therefore allows us -the readers- to distinguish the characters personality and a sort of relationship with them which will then help to deliver his overall theme in the end.

Guilty or Innocent?.......2007-10-16

Guilty or Innocent? Imagine having to spend the rest of his life in jail. But for what you ask. Maybe it was something as simple as trying to fit in, trying to prove that you are tougher or stronger then someone else. Or, maybe your getting accused or murdering an important person in someone's community. Or maybe you're getting accused of robbery. Or maybe it's both. In Walter Dean Myers' Monster, this is just what happens to Steve Harmon in this fast moving novel, which is actually written like a movie script.
The court room is filled with drama, and so is Steve's life, and because Steve is made out to be a "real character" our lives to, seems to be filled with drama. We go through Steve's struggles with him, and we want him to be proven innocent, as much as he wants to be proven innocent. But really, do we want to know who he truly is? Do we want to know if Steve is truly a monster? This story is filled with so much suspense and as the reader, we just want to keep the pages flipping. The reader finds about Steve's struggles with his family, and learns about his fears in jail. The reader also learns the truth about Steve's past, from insight directly to his past, and through that we learn that and the crime that he really committed. We watch the relationship between Steve and his Father as it disintegrates into nothing, and we relate to Steve as he gets ripped apart. We relate to Steve's fears of being in jail, of being alone, and of being hurt, and we as the reader feel hurt also. Steve is such a real person, it makes him so easy to relate to, and want to relate to.
The way that Myers wrote this book really makes the reader feel for Steve as he searches within himself to try to prove to himself that he is not a monster, even though he is presented as one so many times through the novel. The story line builds with no definite answers to weather or not Steven is a monster, or weather or not he is guilty. This story is chock-full of emotions that readers will, once again find the book hard to put down.

Monster Critique.......2007-10-16

Monster written by Walter Dean Myers is a novel about a young man who finds himself in a precarious situation. Steve Harmon's entire life lays balanced on the tip of a knife; that knife is the jury that will ultimately decide if his accused crime of felony murder is punishable by life in prison or worse death, or if he may walk free among the living people.
Steve Harmon is a kid who fell in with the wrong crowd growing up, living in Harlem, New York doesn't help maters much. His story unfolds in such a believable way that it is obvious the Myers was intending to connect with the youth, or open some far more sheltered eyes. The swiftness of the text gives the reader nothing to go on, it is like we are jurors ourselves and must examine each part of the story, except we get the added bonus of notes from the defendant as he sits in the court room or in jail. While we are able to understand what is happening because it is all spelled out for us in either words or setting, there isn't much from a readers view to go on other than the words of the attorneys and witnesses. This may be seen as an initial hindrance because most authors want the reader to sympathize with the protagonist right off; however Myers shakes up the cores of literature by giving us only enough that we can vaguely see it all with a semi-unbiased attitude. In this way he keeps us guessing right up to the very end and beyond.
Towards the end of the novel we must ask ourselves if Steve has truly reformed or learned anything from his ordeal. Is there something that he took out of it all and will make himself better for it. The truth is I am unable to guess. Ms O'Brien seems to think that there was something wrong with Steve at the end. What is probably the question on every readers lips as with Steve as he closes his book, "What did she see?" (281)
The tempo of the peace moves fast enough that it is obviously a young adult novel and entices the young readers with each page turn, perhaps promising a glimpse as to what actually happened that day, but Myers knows better than to give that all away. He keeps the reader guessing, I seriously thought that he would end the book without giving the reader the verdict. If he had done that I have no doubt that there would be blog upon blog about Monster and its re-written endings. But even now I have no doubt that out there somewhere there is a blog or chat in which people are moaning about the ending of the book and how they saw it leading in another direction, maybe a few will even take a stab at FanFiction writing and just tell the story as they think it should have ended.
Thought we are not given much by way of describing a court room, or jail for that matter, it is not hard for any of the youth of America to imagine a court room or jail. Though the majority of us have never been to either place in person, the modern day media does all the describing for you. When you look at day time television, what is it, news, soap operas, talk shows, and Court shows. Judge Judy has become a classic parody of modern culture. Movies from the Green Mile to My Cousin Vinnie show completely different images of a jail and yet we still get the same kind of stories we are getting from Steve just on a visual way. In this way modern media is basically writing all the description for Steve, because if it were a film, you can parody the stuff that's already out there and you're all set.
Each character is portrayed beautifully for the time and place. Steve isn't worried about gangrene in Jail, nor is the stenograph typing on a type writer one letter at a time. The "props" and setting fit in perfectly with the modern feel of the book and there for correspond with the overall flow of the book. Consistent through out is the events. They all fall when they should on the timeline of things, both in the legal terms and guidelines, and in reality. Steve Harmon's character is so much easier to believe because his trial is going as it should and he is trying his best to be a good boy and do what he has to do to get out, without ever actually breaking the law or lying flat out.
Characters, whether protagonist or antagonist, are important to a piece of literature and Myers obviously thinks so too. He doesn't confuse the reader by switching protagonists back and forth in piece of literature, He also allows the reader to swallow any little bits of background information before moving on to the next segment. He doesn't give a whole story of Steve's life leading up to the trial then the trial, nor by any means is it all a memory, he's not looking back on something with a biased point of view. It seems almost crucial to Myers that he tells his story so that readers will understand but not become too enveloped in Steve Harmon's story.
While spoken language may cause problems in other stories Myers doesn't let it ruin his tale. Yes, his characters all have a particular way of speaking, but it is not so heavy and thick that we cannot understand it, and by no means is it really simple as to insult the young reader. Myers finds the right balance in which he gives his characters different voices but doesn't let these voices digress from the real story. It is obvious from some of Steve's notes that he is an educated young man and has the power to use the English language well, but when we speak outside a classroom or boardroom, our language discipline tends to relax and the same holds true the Steve Harmon and his cohorts. Each man or woman has ways of speaking, like the lawyers talk in riddles with all their double talking and saying a lot without saying anything, the street men of Harlem have slang, and innuendos for everything they do, they have to or will get in trouble with the law. But even with these language differences, they really do nothing more than distinguish one person from another and help to move the story along with some interest.
It's hard to tell, the book seems to shift between a camera's point of view which I think would be a veiled third person, meaning we don't really get to see or hear the feelings of all those involved but we still are not viewing the scene from the eyes of Steve. The other view is Steve's own thoughts or notes he scribbles down on paper, these are totally first person and are just trying to get down on paper that which is going on around him and possibly lighten the load that is undoubtedly weighing down on Steve's shoulders.
All I can say is Brava Mr. Myers, Brava.

So-so.......2007-10-16

I think the book was really well written. The style was very original and interesting, but I don't feel the book was very challenging. The format kept you wondering what the outcome would be and I found myself constantly changing my mind. The charcters were very realiztic and the story had a good consistant pace where I didn't find myself bored or overwhelmed. All in all I'd say it was a good quick read.

Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and Other Sea Monsters

Average customer rating:

Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and other Sea Monsters
Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and Other Sea Monsters
Excellent pop up book, reading is complicated
Absolutely amazing!!!
Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and Other Sea Monsters

Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and Other Sea Monsters
Robert Sabuda , and Matthew Reinhart
Manufacturer: Candlewick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Veterinary | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 076362229X
Release Date: 2006-04-11

Book Description

Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water! The second astonishing ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA book from Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart is about to pop up everywhere.

While dinosaurs patrolled the lands, massive prehistoric sharks, giant scorpions, and colossal squid cruised the ancient oceans - most with just one thing in mind: eat or be eaten. In this companion volume to the best-selling ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: DINOSAURS, pop-up masters Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart explore the prehistoric underwater world, where monsters like megalodon ruled the waves.

Full of captivating facts and more than 35 breathtaking pop-ups, this incredible volume is sure to astonish and amaze everyone from budding marine biologists to confirmed landlubbers. After all, if prehistoric coelacanths and crocodiles are still around, what else might be lurking in today's largely unexplored oceans?

Customer Reviews:

Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and other Sea Monsters.......2007-10-03

Absolutely gorgeous and intriguing pop-ups. Good information about the sharks and sea monsters. I love all things by Robert Sabuda. Good for kids 4 and older.

Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and Other Sea Monsters.......2007-08-25

This is an awesome pop up book! I bought it for my 3 year old's B-Day. He loves looking at the book while I read to him about the prehistoric Mega-Beasts. I actually have learned a lot myself from this book. Although you would normally think this book is for boys. My six year old daughter also enjoys me reading these books to her. They are fun and very educational. I am a high school teacher and I really think this pop up book would be very valuable to any science classroom. I liked this book so much I also purchased the other two in the set!

Excellent pop up book, reading is complicated.......2007-08-16

Cool book. Reading is over the age category of my daughters, but they simply enjoy the pop ups.

Absolutely amazing!!!.......2007-08-13

This book is unbelievable! The attention to detail is fantastic. Absolute value for money and a must for any child who is as taken with sharks dinosaurs as my son is.

Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and Other Sea Monsters.......2007-08-12

Robert Sabuda always does a fantastic job and this is just another example of an exciting, educational pop-up book.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books