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

Book Description

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Twilight of Sovereignty : How the Information Revolution Is Transforming Our World

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Prescient
Most alarming book since Orwell's 1984

The Twilight of Sovereignty : How the Information Revolution Is Transforming Our World
Walter B. Wriston
Manufacturer: Scribner Book Company
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ASIN: 0684194546

Customer Reviews:

Prescient.......2005-03-28

In "The Twilight Of Sovereignty", the late Walter Wriston, former Chairman of Citicorp spoke to the positive transformative effects of information technology and the subsequent rise of transparency and democracy through globalization. Although this book was written in 1992, just after the collapse of the Soviet Union, his commentary about the spread of modern communications and how better communications will enable the forces of globalism to erode the power of local tyrannies, empower individuals and promote democracy was prescient. His comments predate those of Walter Russell Mead in "Power Terror War And Peace" by several years, but are clearly in agreement. In `Twilight" Wriston's view that the so-called managerial class has outlived its usefulness as a communications hierarchy and is now superfluous or even destructive to operational efficiency is a clear example of what Mead calls the Millennial Capitalist replacement of the Fordist managerial state. Wriston also set the stage for Thomas Barnett's call for transparency and globalism as a means to fight terrorism in Barnett's recent book, "The Pentagon's New Map". In Wriston's view "the law of technology is the law of convergence" and "as information technology brings the news of how others live, the pressure for freedom will be irresistible". This is a more eloquent if a less detailed discussion than Barnett's chapter entitled `Mind the Gap', but the train of thought is essentially the same. This book is more a survey than the intensive development of the ideas that Wriston proposed, but it may be that he just assumed a degree of literacy that is no longer general. His historical references include Max Weber, whose theory of state has sovereignty emerging from the exclusive use of legitimate violence, and Frederick Hayek, whose individual choice based market solutions establish him as the intellectual heir of Adam Smith. Wriston also included modern commentators like Carver Mead and George Gilder who rejoice in the ever- accelerating pace of technological change. Wriston said that change is a constant in the global marketplace and that "change is what Americans deal with best." Although somewhat dated, I recommend this book as a concise general preview of the technological globalist argument from one of its original proponents.

Most alarming book since Orwell's 1984.......1997-10-27

Walter Wriston emvisions a world where corporations exercise totalitarian control. With control of financial markets, they are able to make or break nations who stand in the way of their eternal drive for greater and greater profits. Mr. Wriston asks us to trust that the corporations' managers are now more enlightened while he acknowledges that they have a brutal history. This book should be a wake up call to any one who is not a member of the stock-holding privileged class that our future lies in sweatshops unless we act now to stop the multi-national corporations.

The Fragmentation of Afghanistan: State Formation and Collapse in the International System, Second Edition

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The Fragmentation of Afghanistan: State Formation and Collapse in the International System
Fragmentation of Afganistan
very detailed and well researched, but a tough read
Solid academic political analysis
Solid academic political analysis

The Fragmentation of Afghanistan: State Formation and Collapse in the International System, Second Edition
Barnett R. Rubin
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0300095198

Amazon.com

The tortured history of Afghanistan is illuminatingly outlined by Barnett S. Rubin, an American academic and human rights monitor in the region. In the 19th century, the country successfully resisted colonial rule, becoming a buffer between the imperial superpowers, Britain and Russia. That dangerous position resulted in an isolation that held back modernization and the emergence of a modern central government. In this century, the Soviet Union and the United States maintained the status quo up until the early seventies, when a communist coup heralded massive outside intervention. The country was ripe for a disastrous fragmentation. This scholarly study is complemented by a sequel: The Search for Peace in Afghanistan.

Book Description

This monumental book examines Afghan society in conflict, from the 1978 communist coup to the fall of Najibullah, the last Soviet-installed president, in 1992. This edition, newly revised by the author, reflects developments since then and includes material on the Taliban and Osama bin Laden. It is a book that now seems remarkably prescient. Drawing on two decades of research, Barnett R. Rubin, a leading expert on Afghanistan, provides a fascinating account of the nature of the old regime, the rise and fall of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, and the troubled Mujahidin resistance. He relates all these phenomena to international actors, showing how the interaction of U.S. policy and Pakistani and Saudi Arabian interests has helped to create the challenges of today. Rubin puts into context the continuing turmoil in Afghanistan and offers readers a coherent historical explanation for the country's social and political fragmentation.

Customer Reviews:

The Fragmentation of Afghanistan: State Formation and Collapse in the International System.......2005-07-08

This book is excellent. It describes in great detail how Great Britain, Russia, Th U.S. and now Pakistan have contributed to the destruction of the basic fiber of the country and the reasons this happened.

Fragmentation of Afganistan.......2005-07-06

I received two copiesof book and returned one. I did enjoy the book very much.

very detailed and well researched, but a tough read.......2004-03-01

Barry Rubin's account of the fragmentation of Afghanistan and the failure of the state is a very detailed in-depth account of the different parties involved, and the cobweb of international and national actors. I especially appreciated the new post September 11 preface to the second edition. It is a great book for the academic or those looking for a serious book on Afghanistan, however I would not recommend it for someone with little knowledge of the region and its and religous political struggles. Without an understanding of the region, the reader is not likely to get past the first chapter.

Solid academic political analysis.......2001-07-05

Afghanistan, in the perceptions of many, is a small, seemingly inconsequential country. It has experienced encroachment from the Soviets, Pakistanis, Persians, Mughals, Mongols, Ottoman Turks and has been on the receiving end of a mixed positive and negative American presence. The people of Afghanistan have endured governmental incompetence, nepotism, torture, murder, political Islam, political negligence, state formation and collapse, ethnic and tribal strife and civil war. Afghanistan has been affected by all major international economic and political crises and as Rubin suggests is "The Mirror of the World" as the first chapter is titled.

Barnett Rubin clearly knows his subject and gives the reader a masterful analysis of the social and political realities of Afghanistan and how those played out in the (many times lack of) governance of the country. The analysis includes the interrelationships and rivalries of tribes, the communist party, political elites, and fundamentalist Islamic clerics and their supporters. Rubin also discusses the origins as well as the failures of the state system to administer to even a small portion of the citizens. The state, unable to withstand the factional vying for power of those groups as well as those more on the margin of Afghan politics, collapsed.

There was little if any legitimacy to the state in much of recent Afghan history. In fact, most of the funding for social programs, infrastructure, as well as government employee paychecks were from international aid. There was exceedingly little investment in industry, which prevented the Afghans from repayment of loans. The feudal relations of tribes and khans many times held strong even through short sighted goverment incursions and policies enacted to assert its own hegemony. The reasons for the collapse of the Afghan government become quite clear when one reads such a compelling account of political failure.

Soviet control and manipulations are treated comprehensively and are well documented.

Rubin presents a thorough, nuanced, very well researched piece of sholarship and deserves much credit for teaching us the intricacies of state and political policy formation.

Solid academic political analysis.......2001-07-05

There was little if any legitimacy to the state in much of recent Afghan history. In fact, most officials were appointed by someone who simply forced his way into power. Another major problem for the political elites (and ultimately the citizens) was that most of the funding for social programs, infrastructure, as well as government employee paychecks were from international aid. There was exceedingly little investment of that aid in industry, which prevented the Afghans from repayment of loans and achieving economic and political independence.

The feudal relations of tribes and khans many times held strong even through short sighted goverment incursions and policies enacted to assert its own hegemony. The reasons for the collapse of the Afghan government become quite clear when one reads such a compelling account of political and economic failure.

Soviet control and manipulations are treated comprehensively and are well documented.

Rubin presents a thorough, nuanced, very well researched piece of sholarship and deserves much credit for teaching us the intricacies of state and political policy formation.

Book Description

For almost sixty years, the results of the New Deal have been an accepted part of political life. Social Security, to take one example, is now seen as every American's birthright. But to validate this revolutionary legislation, Franklin Roosevelt had to fight a ferocious battle against the opposition of the Supreme Court--which was entrenched in laissez faire orthodoxy. After many lost battles, Roosevelt won his war with the Court, launching a Constitutional revolution that went far beyond anything he envisioned. In The Supreme Court Reborn, esteemed scholar William E. Leuchtenburg explores the critical episodes of the legal revolution that created the Court we know today. Leuchtenburg deftly portrays the events leading up to Roosevelt's showdown with the Supreme Court. Committed to laissez faire doctrine, the conservative "Four Horsemen"--Justices Butler, Van Devanter, Sutherland, and McReynolds, aided by the swing vote of Justice Owen Roberts--struck down one regulatory law after another, outraging Roosevelt and much of the Depression-stricken nation. Leuchtenburg demonstrates that Roosevelt thought he had the backing of the country as he prepared a scheme to undermine the Four Hoursemen. Famous (or infamous) as the "Court-packing plan," this proposal would have allowed the president to add one new justice for every sitting justice over the age of seventy. The plan picked up considerable momentum in Congress; it was only after a change in the voting of Justice Roberts (called "the switch in time that saved nine") and the death of Senate Majority Leader Joseph T. Robinson that it shuddered to a halt. Rosevelt's persistence led to one of his biggest legislative defeats. Despite the failure of the Court-packing plan, however, the president won his battle with the Supreme Court; one by one, the Four Horsemen left the bench, to be replaced by Roosevelt appointees. Leuchtenburg explores the far-reaching nature of FDR's victory. As a consequence of the Constitutional Revolution that began in 1937, not only was the New Deal upheld (as precedent after precedent was overturned), but also the Court began a dramatic expansion of Civil liberties that would culminate in the Warren Court. Among the surprises was Senator Hugo Black, who faced widespread opposition for his lack of qualifications when he was appointed as associate justice; shortly afterward, a reporter revealed that he had been a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Despite that background, Black became an articulate spokesman for individual liberty. William E. Leuchtenburg is one of America's premier historians, a scholar who combines depth of learning with a graceful style. This superbly crafted book sheds new light on the great Constitutional crisis of our century, illuminating the legal and political battles that created today's Supreme Court.

Between States: Interim Governments in Democratic Transitions (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics)

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Useful for understanding the limitations of IR theory

Between States: Interim Governments in Democratic Transitions (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics)
Yossi Shain , and Juan J. Linz
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
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Developing Democracy: Toward Consolidation

ASIN: 0521474175

Book Description

Between States is a two-part study compiled in one book. It is the first book to assess systematically the broad implications of interim governments in the establishment of democratic regimes and on the existence of states. Drawing on historical and contemporary democratization experiences, Shain and Linz, the principal authors, explore four ideal types of interim government: opposition-led provisional governments, power-sharing interim governments, incumbent-led caretaker governments, and international interim government by the United Nations. In the second part of this book, other contributors evaluate the subject further in extensive case studies.

Customer Reviews:

Useful for understanding the limitations of IR theory.......1998-03-11

Reviewed by Sergei V. Solodovnik in International Relations, Volume XIII, No 5, August 1997 -

The purpose of this book is two-fold: first, to develop a theory based on models of transitional forms of governance, and secondly, to support a theoretical analysis with case studies derived from six episodes of post-Second World War history. The authors have done their best to blend legal and political issues into an integrated multi-disciplinary approach, reflecting the twin challenges experienced by new states emerging from a former state: the legitimacy of the political entity and the nature of its regime.
Both points are crucial in those instances when the period between the break-up of the old regime or the dissolution of the former state and the first democratic elections is overseen by an interim administration. A provisional government, by definition, is not a fully legal entity, which might explain why many scholars of the legality of the state have disregarded the problems of provisional governments. But the type of government is crucial during the stage of transition from authoritarian to democratic rule; it may either impede or expedite the transformation.
The authors offer the following models of transitional regimes: 1) revolutionary provisional governments, 2) power-sharing interim governments, 3) incumbent caretaker governments, 4) international interim governments. While the first three differ between themselves on the extent of the role played by representatives of the former ruling elite within an interim government (from near zero in model 1 to near dominant in model 3), the fourth model seems especially apposite for the turn of the century, with the new emphasis on international intervention in civil or ethnic conflicts.
In that context, the authors put their model to a test of the `lessons from Namibia and Cambodia'; both interventions proved successful. The proposition here was that the United Nations assumed `the role of international interim government'.
It should be noted, however, that in Namibia and in Cambodia, as well as in Bosnia somewhat later, the UN's role was rather that of the international voter. The United Nations was not conducting direct rule, it concentrated on control points in the transition process, such as refugee camps, safety zones, military forces concentration points etc. It would be much closer to reality to describe the UN's role as an international ministry of defence on a power-sharing basis. It seems to me, however, that the role of international voter which the UN played was much more important for the transitional stage. It was the United Nations which decided who would be eligible for the local interim government - in terms of both political parties and individuals - and what would be the share for each domestic actor in the provisional administration. In a way, the UN was sorting the democratic, or at least rational, sheep from the dictatorial goats. In Namibia the goats succumbed; in Cambodia they were suppressed; but in Somalia they proved much stronger than the international voter, or rather the latter failed to back the right sheep.
In the cases of multilateral intervention, such as enforced peacekeeping, the international community tends to support the idea of interim power-sharing governments, the model for which is outlined in Chapter 2. The authors state that the viability of such temporary coalitions is contingent upon the relative strength of the regime and the zealousness of the opposition, while at the same time such a partnership imparts a degree of legitimacy on both sides.
The first two case studies concern the Portuguese and Iranian revolutionary transitions. In the first case transformation led to democracy, while in the second it produced a totally new clerical legitimacy for the country. Apart from differences in their religious, ethnic and cultural traditions, the authors explain the differences in outcome by such factors as the revolutionaries' attitudes towards the existing institutions of state power, whatever the character of the ancien régime. State bureaucracy in its larger sense, including financial and legal institutions, the police and the armed forces, was upheld in Portugal and almost totally disintegrated in Iran.
The Afghan case shows the international community's total failure to establish a capable interim government. When the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan, and Russia subsequently closed down its military and resource support for the Najibullah government, President Najibullah was quite prepared to take part in an interim government. Alas, it was too late, both for President Najibullah personally and for the idea of a compromise solution in general. It seems that one of the most decisive factors was the lack of any effective foreign intervention, against which the United Nations had voted almost unanimously in the 1980s. The UN budget could not support intervention in a country so divided along ethnic, tribal, religious and local lines. Thus the implementation of the UN plan to establish an interim administration failed, and conflict resolution changed into ethnic fragmentation.
This book is extremely useful for those who understand the limitations of international relations theory, which cannot fully account for the transformation of state interests in the transition process. The internal determinants of a state's foreign policy both in the process of consolidation e.g.Germany, or dissolution e.g.USSR, may prove critical for global politics. The period of transition, however short, leaves behind long-term consequences for other international actors.
SERGEI V. SOLODOVNIK

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The Subterranean Forest: Energy Systems and the Industrial Revolution
Rolf Peter Sieferle
Manufacturer: The White Horse Press
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1874267472

Book Description

The historical transition from the agrarian solar energy regime to the use of fossil energy has fuelled the industrial transformation of the last 200 years. The author argues that the analysis of historical energy systems provides an explanation for different social formations because availability of free energy is the framework within which socio-metabolic processes can take place. This explains why the Industrial Revolution began in Britain, where coal was readily available and firewood already depleted or difficult to transport, whereas Germany, with its huge forests next to rivers, was much longer dependent on a traditional solar energy regime. An earlier version of this landmark text was published in German in 1982. It has been thoroughly revised and updated by the author and now appears in English for the first time.

The Measure of All Things: The Seven-Year Odyssey and Hidden Error That Transformed the World

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The Measure of All Things
It helps if you're a surveyor or geodesist, but good for everyone
Measure, but no details
A story about science and scientists
The search for precision

The Measure of All Things: The Seven-Year Odyssey and Hidden Error That Transformed the World
Ken Alder
Manufacturer: Free Press
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743216768

Book Description

In June 1792, amidst the chaos of the French Revolution, two intrepid astronomers set out in opposite directions on an extraordinary journey. Starting in Paris, Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Delambre would make his way north to Dunkirk, while Pierre-François-André Méchain voyaged south to Barcelona. Their mission was to measure the world, and their findings would help define the meter as one ten-millionth of the distance between the pole and the equator -- a standard that would be used "for all people, for all time."

The Measure of All Things is the astonishing tale of one of history's greatest scientific adventures. Yet behind the public triumph of the metric system lies a secret error, one that is perpetuated in every subsequent definition of the meter. As acclaimed historian and novelist Ken Alder discovered through his research, there were only two people on the planet who knew the full extent of this error: Delambre and Méchain themselves.

By turns a science history, detective tale, and human drama, The Measure of All Things describes a quest that succeeded as it failed -- and continues to enlighten and inspire to this day.

Customer Reviews:

The Measure of All Things.......2007-04-01

"The historian owes the dead nothing but the truth." Quoting Delambre in this instance, Ken Alder makes it known that he is conscious of the ethical responsibility that historians are required to uphold. As a historian himself, I have little doubt that he has intentionally wavered from this oath, nor do I believe that he ever attempted to suppress information. He is bound by his profession to seek and give truth. However, anyone who as gifted as he is, is certainly capable of persuading his audience, especially an audience who has no intent to seek out inconsistencies. In this book, I believe that Alder may be over-dramatizing the importance of some of the information presented. I also think that the context, organization and generalization that Alder expresses can also mislead the common day reader or the critical reader for that matter. In this historical account I find myself confused by many of the messages that he is sending forth. Here I feel it is necessary to quote the following paragraph, taken from the prologue, to express several of my viewpoints:

"Together, these documents reveal a remarkable story. They reveal that Mechain-despite his extreme caution and exactitude-committed an error in the early years of the expedition, and worse, upon discovering his mistake, covered it up. Mechain was so tormented by the secret knowledge of his error that he was driven to the brink of madness. In the end, he died in an attempt to correct himself. The meter, it turns out, is in error, an error which has been perpetuated in every subsequent redefinition of its length, including our current definition of the meter in terms of the distance traveled by light in a fraction of a second."

Starting from the beginning, we first see Alder use his words to imply that his error was a mistake and by covering it up was something even worse. I would argue that Mechain did not commit an error at all. In fact, it was his keen attention to detail that produced observational inconsistencies. If he had subscribed to Delambre's methodology, he would have checked his measurements according to two stars, which would have agreed, and he would have been on his way. In fact, the first three stars were in agreement, it was a fourth star, Mizar, an obscure star located on the horizon, that put him in disagreement. If simple statistical theory existed during this time, it would deduce Mizar's observation as an outlier. Covering up this so-called error is another shadow that Alder casts at this early juncture at Mechain's expense. We know from Delambre and Mechain's dialog that Mechain consistently told his colleague of this error. We are also made aware that Delambre said the following in regards to Mechain, "if he dissimulated a few anomalous results which he feared would be blamed on his lack of care or skill, if he succumbed to the temptation to alter several series of observations...., at least he did so in such a way that the altered data never entered into the calculation of the meridian." Finally, Alder chooses to lead into a statement explicitly stating that the meter, as we know it today, is in error. If this were true and Mechain did botch the survey, how would this error get translated or `perpetuate' to the distance traveled by light in a fraction of a second?

The next paragraph continues to make shocking revelations. When Alder stated, "the meter calculated by Delambre and Mechain falls roughly .2 millimeters short", I passed over it with some caution. However, by the time I finished the book I was thoroughly perplexed by this conclusive statement. Is Alder suggesting that Delambre and Mechain are the ones who calculated the meter? As I recall in Alder's own words, "the single factor that made the greatest difference to the final determination of the meter was based on the very data they had been sent to supercede." Moreover, what is Alder implying by falling short? Do we now know the correct distance from the equator to the pole and it is an unchanging fixed measure? What is Alder's source or foundation in making a statement like this or any of these haphazard remarks?

My reaction to the prologue, as I am sure most readers might be, is that the meter being in error is a very significant discovery, and without equivocation - Mechain is to blame for this discrepancy. I can only hope that it is not written by Alder himself. Even if it is not, he is responsible for the fabric of this ballyhoo. If I had not read this portion of the book, I may have not had anything critical to say about it. I think it is an accurate historical account of what took place and I enjoyed seeing some of the incipient stages of globalization come into view. I was also intrigued by the world's perception in this time period and how the revolution marked the demise of some predominant theocentric misconceptions, which, in my mind, precipitated the end of the `savant' and gave rise to the scientist.

All things considered, I was disappointed that the book did not fulfill its promise. I think it is degrading to promote a book about science in such a way as to trick readers into thinking it's something that it's not. Some who read this book may gather that it is about a "hidden error that transformed the world", for me it was a book that did not live up to its billing, and kept me second guessing myself and the author's intent throughout.

It helps if you're a surveyor or geodesist, but good for everyone.......2005-12-29

I greatly enjoyed this book. While there have been complaints about a lack of example calculations and discussion of details of how it was done, there is enough in here for someone familiar with this type of work to figure it out. And if you don't know this material, you may not want to be faced with the math (believe me)!

The discussion on the repeating 'theodolite' was great, as were the trials and tribulations of triangulation. If you've ever measured angles on a mountain top, you'll know just what the author is getting at. A great achievement for an historian, who, we presume, may not have done this kind of work.

There are two other really good parts of this book. The first is the discussion on the search for a 'universal' system of measurement. It places the metric system in a context, not as the be-all and end-all, but as a serious effort to solve a serious set of problems. The discussion of the 'error' is fascinating. This part hasn't changed in nature, just the current details.

The second is the analysis of the personalities of the two central characters. Alder does bring them to life. Having worked in Antarctica for a year and seen people dealing with the stress of isolation, the story was very real to me: I almost knew those guys, albeit in different times and guises. And the stress was real: these guys ran the risks of close encounters with Madame Guillotine, wars, disease, politics, the works. This was quite apart from the normal risks of the job, such as falling off cliffs and towers, exposure, unhappy locals, etc. Thank heavens for GPS, a technology that is possible only because of the foundation work of geodesists like Mechain and Delambre.

Enjoy this book, as a history of measurement and geodesy, a history of a major surveying achievement, and a vivid study of personalities under real stress.

Measure, but no details.......2005-10-23

I have no hesitation in recommending this book to just about any interest or level of scientific knowledge or background. There is a wealth of information that is generally little known. How many of us knew that metrication was a unifying factor beyond simply the impaired meter measurement? How many of us knew that the most advanced nation in the world, the USA, is one of few hold-outs in the world (along with N. Korea, for instance) that have not accepted metrication -- and screwed up a very expensive Mars landing expedition as a consequence?

Why only three stars? I'm sorry Mr. Alder, but I bought your book primarily because I wanted to know how the two guys did it -- but you didn't tell me in any detail! OK, so this was not intended as a text book and if it had been packed with all the geometry it would not have sold as well. But even so, surely we should have been provided with some access. An appendix with some example calculations would have been welcome. How about a web site reference to the detailed mathematics? It is a great wonder to me how these guys managed to do all these detailed calculations when all they had was stylus and paper. And the precision to which they worked was very great, requiring either reams of trigonometric tables or very tedious calculations for every trig function they used.

It took me a long time to read this book, because I spent a lot of time on the Internet trying to find references to how they performed their calculations. Surprisingly I found nothing significant. So Mr. Alder, having researched all the original papers, missed an oportunity to enlighten us. I think how they did the calculations to the precision they were able would have been at least as interesting a story.

Perhaps you can add this as a sequel, Mr. Alder...

A story about science and scientists.......2005-02-22

This book follows a recent trend, which has produced some very good books, to take a relevant but poorly known scientific development and telling its story and the story of its main protagonists. Alder has chosen the story of how, in the late XVIII Century, the Royal Academy of Sciences in France was trying hard to reach the definitive measurement of the meter, and hence of all the metric system, the one which today dominates weights and measures around the world. The meter was supposed to be a ten millionth of the distance from one of the poles to the equator. The French proposed taking a sample of one meridian, the segment running from Dunkirk down to Barcelona, measuring it to perfection and then inferring the rest of the distance of the meridian. One ten millionth of that would be the meter. Two outstanding astronomers are chosen for the job, which was supposed to last no more than a year. But alas, the French Revolution comes to full gear at the beginning of the labors, and our scientists suffer all kinds of setbacks, prolonging the task for seven long and hard years.

Who were these gentlemen? Well, here is where the story gets all its fascinating features, illuminating the reader about how much the personalities involved in research can affect the scientific outcome of it. The first man is Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre. He is a man of humble origins, a Classicist who has become tutor to a noble and rich family. A late bloomer, Delambre has become a remarkable astronomer almost all by himself, as a disciple of renowned (a magnificent and eccentric character) Jerome Lalande. The other man is a professional astronomer, also a disicple of Lalande's. His name is Pierre Francois Andre Mechain, who lives in the Royal Observatory in Paris.

Delambre goes north of Paris to Dunkirk while Mechain goes south to Barcelona. In the early days of their quest, political events (the execution of King Louis XVI and the instauration of the Terror) impose severe setbacks to both scientists. So severe, that the original year of labor will stretch to seven years. This is where the book reaches high altitudes, when it describes the differences in personalities between Delambre and Mechain. Granted, Mechain suffers much more, including a terrible accident and exile in Italy. But while Delambre is patient, practical and business-going, Mechain starts developing a severe anguish, emotional imbalance and paranoia. All this is aggravated by a mysterious situation, which really becomes the axis of the story: while measuring up the latitude at Montjuich, south of Barcelona, Mechain seems to make a mistake which will torment him for the rest of his life. One of the meditions (each one related to a different star) simply doesn't fit with the rest. Delambre or any other practical astronomer would simply have dismissed the incongrous data as a mysterious distortion, but Mechain, a man obsessed with an accuracy impossible for his age, decides not to disclose the mistake, fearing it might destroy his reputation. And so, year after year, he carries along his guilt and his paranoia.

Somehow, the book has a happy ending I will not spoil here. Suffice it to say this a very interesting and well written story about a true and relevant scientific quest. Don't get bogged down in scientific detail if you don't get everyting right. The adventure and the human story are more than satisfactory enough.

The search for precision.......2005-01-26

Since the book 'Longitude', by D. Sobel, was published and became a best seller, there have been a number of books that have tried to follow the same lines. Some of these efforts have been successful. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that this book lived up to the task.

This story involves the quest for an accurate all encompassing unit of measure that can be agreed upon. During this period of time, the world does not have a standard unit of measure. Each town of province would have it's own standard for a unit of length, weight, and volume. Trade in that area would be based on this standard. This concept worked well until you left the area and tried to trade goods with a aneighboring town.

The neighboring town would have a different set of standards, which caused problems with setting unitary costs for goods. What a trader would pay per bushel of goods wouldn't mean very much when the size of the bushel changed from town to town.

The book goes into detail of the events regarding the determination of the standard meter. I enjoyed the race between the differnet countries, including the French trying to get the United States involved. Another interesting point was how the French Revolution played into the process. It was such a turbulent time and anyone hwo was part of the 'official' King's business were the enemy to the citizens.

The book gets a little long and drawn out regarding the measurements taken. It gets a little dry and, at times, difficult to keep ones interest. Not a bad book, but when compared to some of the better books, this one falls a little short.

The Paradox of Revolution: Labor, the State, and Authoritarianism in Mexico

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The Paradox of Revolution: Labor, the State, and Authoritarianism in Mexico
Kevin J. Middlebrook
Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0801851483

Book Description

This important interdisciplinary work makes original contributions to the study of the state-society relations in Latin America and to the comparative analysis of labor's role in regime change. Middlebrook's theoretical framework identifies the principal dimensions of elite control over mass participation in postrevolutionary authoritarian regimes and highlights the most important aspects of Mexican authoritarianism. By demonstrating organized labor's central importance in the formation and evolution of Mexico's distinctive authoritarian regime, Middlebrook also lays the basis for a major reinterpretation of key features of twentieth-century Mexican politics.

"Any scholar interested in Latin American social and political questions over the last one hundred years will sooner or later read this book. Mexicanists worth their salt will read it as soon as they can get it. The scholarship is outstandingly sound. It is rigorous in conceptualization and analysis, and in the historical parts as good as the best histories of Mexican labor and politics." -- John Womack Jr., Harvard University

The Rights Revolution: Lawyers, Activists, and Supreme Courts in Comparative Perspective

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The Rights Revolution
Compelling reexamination of rights revolutions

The Rights Revolution: Lawyers, Activists, and Supreme Courts in Comparative Perspective
Charles R. Epp
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0226211622

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It is well known that the scope of individual rights has expanded dramatically in the United States over the last half-century. Less well known is that other countries have experienced "rights revolutions" as well. Charles R. Epp argues that, far from being the fruit of an activist judiciary, the ascendancy of civil rights and liberties has rested on the democratization of access to the courts—the influence of advocacy groups, the establishment of governmental enforcement agencies, the growth of financial and legal resources for ordinary citizens, and the strategic planning of grass roots organizations. In other words, the shift in the rights of individuals is best understood as a "bottom up," rather than a "top down," phenomenon.

The Rights Revolution is the first comprehensive and comparative analysis of the growth of civil rights, examining the high courts of the United States, Britain, Canada, and India within their specific constitutional and cultural contexts. It brilliantly revises our understanding of the relationship between courts and social change.

Customer Reviews:

The Rights Revolution.......2007-04-12

I found this book very helpful in understanding the history of women's rights for a project I'm working on.

Compelling reexamination of rights revolutions.......2005-01-05

Charles Epp has done something interesting by providing what should have been a self-evident explanation for rights revolution meant to supplement the standard explanations. Conventional wisdom has it that rights revolutions are created either by one or a combination of any of the following: a general rights consciousness in society, a constitutionally entrenched bill of rights, or liberal judges interested in pushing the rights agenda forward. Epp argues that none of these explanations alone sufficiently explain why rights revolutions occur. Instead he argues that a rights revolution depends upon a support structure in civil society able to fund and organize strategic rights litigation. Epp develops this theory by examining the limitations of conventional explanations for the US rights revolution, which began around 1917. After revealing these limitations, Epp examines the creation of the support structure and demonstrates how this more adequately explains the developing rights revolution. Prior to the development of rights oriented groups, the only persons or groups that were able to sustain strategic litigation were businesses. But, beginning in the early 20th century, rights groups developed sufficient funding and organizational capabilities necessary to allow sustained rights litigation. The judicial rights agenda, Epp demonstrates, is directly responsive to these types of litigation strategies.

After developing his theory in the US context, Epp tests it through examination of three countries: India, Britain, and Canada. In India we see a country that should, under conventional theories, have experienced a radical rights revolution. Yet, as a result of the weak support structure, no sustained rights agenda emerged. The British example is interesting in that conventional explanations suggest no rights agenda should have emerged, but a limited rights revolution has emerged as a result of the development of specialized rights litigation groups. Epp's examination of Canada debunks the myth that the rights revolution resulted solely from adoption of the Charter in 1982.

I said above such an explanation should have been self-evident because the seminal cases defining and creating rights have to start with litigation choices. Yet academic studies have routinely ignored the litigation side of things and focused on courts. This is probably a result of the focus in constitutional studies upon the cases and their results rather than the litigation process that brought the cases up in the first place. Epp's study supplements the conventional explanations for rights revolution and provides a fuller picture than the typical claim that activist judges alone cause such revolutions.

Defying the Iranian Revolution: From a Minister to the Shah to a Leader of Resistance

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Iran
A *Must Read* for Westerners
1979 Revolution Exposed
Fabulous book
Informative and Revealing

Defying the Iranian Revolution: From a Minister to the Shah to a Leader of Resistance
Manouchehr Ganji
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Textbook Binding

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America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It

ASIN: 0275971872

Book Description

The realities of Iranian life are far more harrowing than most people imagine from the outside. Ganji paints a portrait of duplicitous clerics arbitrarily arresting, torturing, mutilating, and executing citizens, all in the name of "Islamic Justice." A system of apartheid has been instituted against women. While 60% of the population lives below the poverty line, the mullah regime has hoarded billions of dollars in accounts and properties in Europe, Canada, and Japan. Roughly 70% of the population is under 30 years of age and opposes the regime. In the year of 2001 alone, 220,000 people--mostly educated youth--left the country in search of better lives. Ganji stresses that the best defense against terrorism is offense, and that the United States can and must establish a proactive policy of helping Iranians struggling for the freedom of Iran, in and out of the country. Western policies toward the Iranian mullah regime have thus far been reactionary rather than proactive. The regime in Iran has been an incubator of international terrorism, aiding and abetting international terrorist groups in and out of the Middle East. The author argues that now is the time for the United States to substitute rhetoric with action in policies toward the ruling clerics in Iran.

Customer Reviews:

Iran.......2006-03-22

This book provided some evidences how the PAHLAVI dynasty was corrupted. As a result the 1979 revolution was inevitable. Also, the author of book was down playing one elemental factor, which was U.S involvment in Iran's revolution.

The author of this book lacked credibility due to following reasons:

The author mentioned how two assassins appeared in street during his son wedding. The author was able to detect two suspicious persons in the street. The author instructed his enforcer team to apprehend the culprits. However, the culprits escaped. The author was able to detect the culprits because he had their pictures. Once, the culprits escaped, the author purged the culprit pictures. According to the author he was a lawyer than why would a lawyer want to purge evidence against culprit?

The author claimed that he was leader of FFO through democratic election. Today, there is no election for new leader of FFO.

Who is paying for all expense of FFO?

Last, the author of the book mentioned at the end of the book that Iranian people themselves have to free themselves from the theology state without a leader. Therefore, someone comes to this natural conclusion. Your book title indicated that you were a leader of resistance.

All in all, this book failed during cross-examination.

A *Must Read* for Westerners.......2005-03-09

I first saw the author on the "Booknotes" program on C-Span. He was such a passionate speaker, I felt compelled to purchase the book. He does admit in several places that the Shah recognized his administration's shortcomings and was making efforts to overcome them. Perhaps one would have to have been there to know for certain their depth and breadth.(?) Dr Ganji's personal story is truly amazing and worth reading just to experience the run he had to make for his life as well as the courage of those who helped him along the way. The real wealth to be gleaned is a better understanding of the ultimate outcome of the radical turn Iran took in the late 70's and how Western leaders (Jimmy Carter, Nobel Prize winner) assisted the power brokers to gain control of the populace. Seeing Dr. Ganji on "Booknotes" certainly woke me into a realization of just how important a role the US plays in world politics. I'm happy to see this book becoming more available in the hope that others can have those same realizations. Dr Ganji provides haunting photos of what people are forced to live with in a maniacally fanatical environment. Shocking. As a woman, I can't imagine a more bleak existence except having my child abducted to serve as a human mine detector. In contrast, he discusses the priviledged status of clerics and how the citizenry is forced to support them in the life to which they have become accustomed as the saying goes. The book and seeing him speak helped me frame a better perspective on what's transpiring in the Middle East and I thank Dr. Ganji for that. It was a transfiguring nudge. The only negative thing is the price of the book which limits accessibilty.....Perhaps that can change.

1979 Revolution Exposed.......2003-08-13

Dr. Ganji provides an explication of the events leading to, during and following the 1979 revolution. The author adds extra zest to the theme of his work when he relays his personal account of the events. This helps to balance out all of the factual data and figures so meticulously researched and listed. The book presents an unbias chronology and is a must read for all; especially at times like these when terrorism has cast a shadow over the globe. Overall, the book covers a crutial event in contemporary Iranian History and is highly recommended for anyone interested in Middle East matters.

Fabulous book.......2003-02-03

This book has been by far the best book about Iran that I have read in recent years.I think it would be a great idea to use it as a text book.
I must say the ones supporting the tragedy of 79 may not like the book, since the author is talking about the truth and his own experinces.

Informative and Revealing.......2003-02-02

Defying the Iranian Revolution by Dr. Manouchehr Ganji is the probably the most informative and revealing account of the Iranian Revolution available. This book was truly a joy to read. Dr. Ganji's unbiased and knowledgeable account and analysis of the Iranian Revolution impacted me greatly. I was thinking about the book for weeks after I had read it. Defying the Iranian Revolution presents all of the aspects of the Iranian Revolution. It gives an honest and illuminating account of all the players, the buildup, the intentions, the consequences, and everything that went on behind the scenes during the years before and after '79. Dr. Ganji's great examination of the Iranian Revolution is complemented by his first-class inspection of Iran today. In addition, the author's personal stories and experiences make the book all the more interesting, courageous, and moving. I consider this book a must read for all Iranians, in order that they will truly appreciate the significance of the events in the recent history of their country. However, whether one is a compatriot, a foreigner, a student, a professor, or an intellectual of any sort, this book will certainly provide more than enough exceptional information, analysis, and entertainment.

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