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:

Has history been tampered with?.......2007-10-23

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RAZQNMXM4M9CL Has history been tampered with? Yes, it has! Did events and eras such as the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Roman Empire , the Dark Ages, and the Renaissance, actually occur within a very different chronology from what we've been told? Yes, they certainly did!

The history of humankind is both drastically shorter and dramatically different than generally presumed.

Why is it so? On one hand, it was usual custom to justify the claims to title and land by age and ancestry, and on the other the court historians knew only too well how to please their masters. The so called universal classic world history is a pack of intricate lies for all events prior to the 16th century. World history as we learn it today was entirely fabricated in the 16th-18th centuries. It's likely that nobody told you before, but

there is not a single piece of firm written evidence or artefact that is reliably and independently dated prior to the 11th century.

Naturally, after what you've learned in school and university, you will not easily believe that the classical history of ancient Rome, Greece, Asia, Egypt, China, Japan, India, etc., is manifestly false.

You will point accusing finger to the pyramids in Egypt, to the Coliseum in Rome and Great Wall of China etc., and claim, aren't they really ancient, thousands of years ancient? Well, there is no valid scientific proof that they are older than 1000 years!

The oldest original written document that can be reliably dated belongs to the 11th century!

New research asserts that Homo sapiens invented writing (including hieroglyphics) only 1000 years ago. Once invented, writing skills were immediately and irreversibly put to the use of ruling powers and science.

The consensual chronology we live with was essentially crafted in the 16th century by the Jesuits.

The world history was compiled from contradictory mix of innumerable copies of ancient Latin and Greek manuscripts and other irrefutable proofs delivered by late mediaeval astronomers that were cemented by the authority of writings of the Church Fathers.

Early in life, we learn about ancient history. Children love the magical lessons of history - they are like fairy tales. Teachers recite breathtaking stories; very soon We learn by heart the names and deeds of brave warriors, wise philosophers, fabulous pharaohs, cunning high priests and greedy scribes.

We learn of gigantic pyramids and sinister castles, kings and queens, dukes and barons, powerful heroes and beautiful ladies, emaciated saints and low-life traitors.

Ancient history is based documents, manuscripts, printed books, paintings, monuments and artefacts - called primary sources.

The problem is that neither these ancient documents, nor events described therein can be irrefutably dated, moreover they contradict each other for the most part.

When a school textbook tells us that Genghis Khan in year X or Alexander in year Y, have each conquered half of the world, it means only that it is so said in some of the written sources.

There are no answers to simple questions:

When were these primary sources written?

Where and by whom were these sources found?

It is wrongly presumed that ancient and medieval chronicles, written by Genghis Khan's or Alexander the Great contemporaries and eyewitnesses, are readily available. Actually, only sources written hundreds or even thousands of years after the events are there, compiled mostly in the 16th 18th centuries, or even later.

As a rule, these sources suffered considerable multiple manipulations, falsifications and distortions by editing. At the same time,

innumerable originals of ancient documents under various pretexts were destroyed in Europe under various pretexts.

The names of persons and geographical sites often changed meaning and location during the course of the centuries.

Geographical locations became clearly defined on maps only with the advent of printing.

This made possible the circulation of identical copies of the same map for purposes of the military, navigation, education and governance tasks.

Historians from Oxford say: "hey, everybody knows that Julius Caesar lived in the first century B.C.

`Julius Caesar' statement is only a point of view as

there is simply no irrefutable documentary proof that Julius Caesar or any other great name of antiquity ever existed.

Better than that - extremely rare sources that can be reliably dated back to the 10th-14th centuries A D, do not show the polished picture of classical history.

They show a picture both contradictory and confusing.

All methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts are erroneous:

Radio-carbon C14 method produces dating with exactitude of plus minus 1500 years, therefore it is too crude for dating of events in historical timeframe!

The Almagest tractate, which lies as corner stone contemporary chronology, compiled in the 2nd century A D by Ptolemy, the founding father of astronomy, contains astronomical data of 9th to 16th century!

The Bronze Age,that has supposedly began 5000 years ago. Bronze is made of 90% copper and 10% tin, but the technology for tin extraction dates back to 14th century A D!.

All eclipses contained in manuscripts, like Thucydides one, relating 'ancient' events have exclusively medieval dating. All horoscopes cut in stone or painted in Egyptian temples, like Dendera have exclusively early medieval dating solutions.

Not quite what you have learned in school? Open your eyes, and, you will find sufficient proof to reach step by step the inevitable conclusion that the classical chronology is false and therefore, that the history of ancient and medieval world universally accepted today, is also false. Have a fresh outlook on everything said or printed about "ancient" and "enigmatic" Roman, Greek and Egyptian, medieval as well as all other "lost and found" civilizations.

Antiquity and Dark Ages are phantoms invented in the 16th 18th and polished in 19th 20thcenturies. Human civilization is in fact barely 1000 years old!

This book will change your perception of History forever!
What if Ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt were invented during Renaissance?
What if The Old Testament was a rendition of events of the Middle Ages?
What if Jesus Christ was born in 1053 and crucified in 1086 AD?
Sounds Unbelievable?
Not after you've read "History: Fiction or Science?" by Anatoly Fomenko, the genius mathematician.
Armed with astronomy and computers Anatoly Fomenko turns History into a rocket science.

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.

Finding the Right Words: Perfect Phrases to Personalize Your Greeting Cards

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Just Perfect
Finding the Right Words: Perfect Phrases to Personalize Your Greeting Cards
Really not "the right words"
Finding the Right Words: Perfect Phrases

Finding the Right Words: Perfect Phrases to Personalize Your Greeting Cards
J. Beverly Daniel
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0743477197

Book Description

Showing someone you care begins with

Finding
the
Right Words

Here you'll find:

• More than three dozen ways to say "Happy Birthday"
• Welcoming words for new family members...even pets
• Thoughtful condolences for personalizing sympathy cards
• Congratulatory wishes for weddings and anniversaries
• Helpful hints to simplify card-sending
• A monthly calendar for birthdays and anniversaries

...and more, in this book of indispensable phrases for all occasions. You'll never be at a loss for words again!

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-01-25

I was given this book as a gift, and have purchased several to give as gifts myself. I keep this book with my notecards and reference it each time I am writing a special note. It is especially helpful when writing to someone in a difficult situation. The book is well-organized and succinct -- unlike other options in this category. I highly recommend this book.

Just Perfect.......2007-01-04

I purchased this for my daughter-in-law, who loves to make personal greeting cards. This little guidebook contains of variety of subjects with many choices for "just the perfect message". Worth the price.

Finding the Right Words: Perfect Phrases to Personalize Your Greeting Cards.......2006-03-01

This book is a treasure - very useful for 'just the right touch'.

Really not "the right words".......2005-10-23

This book was not what I was looking for. It is just a collection of greetings that you would find in cards. They really don't mean much. I was looking for something more unique.

Finding the Right Words: Perfect Phrases.......2005-08-08

A fabulous mind jogger. I'm handed cards and asked to scribe brief notes regarding births, losses, promotions, illness, recovery, and the whole range of ups and downs. This book is great for starting the creative juices going and suggesting a phrase or quote that helps me express my feelings. You will NOT regret the purchase.

Just a Note to Say . . .: The Perfect Words for Every Occasion

Average customer rating:

Not so great
Nice book to have on hand.
For Sincere Expressions In Writing Those Notes.
90% How To and only 10% samples
oodles of concise, eloquent examples

Just a Note to Say . . .: The Perfect Words for Every Occasion
Florence Isaacs
Manufacturer: Clarkson Potter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 030723665X
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Book Description

A fully revised edition of Florence Isaacs’s bestselling classic, Just a Note to Say . . . offers over 150 new sample notes and ideas to help you write warm, meaningful messages that let people know how much they matter.

For a decade, Just a Note to Say . . . has been an unparalleled resource for choosing the perfect words to express sentiments on any occasion. Brief yet meaningful notes at times of celebration, transition, and sadness are more appreciated than ever. Now, etiquette expert Florence Isaacs updates this bestselling classic with more than 150 new ideas, inspirations, and sample notes to help you stay in touch with friends and family. This fully revised edition confirms that you needn’t write a lot to say a lot, offering practical advice to help you articulate your thoughts and let people know how much they matter.

Isaacs explores the significance of occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings to help you recognize the recipient’s personal connection to an event. A cornucopia of holidays and rites of passage such as First Communion, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, La Quinceañera, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Ramadan are also featured, along with tips to inspire warm notes for these occasions. Isaacs also offers new, thoughtful suggestions for writing during sensitive times such as illness, the death of a loved one, and divorce. Plus, a brand-new chapter on the etiquette of using e-mail tells you when it’s appropriate to share your good wishes electronically.

Whether you’re writing an encouraging get-well message or a congratulatory e-mail on a promotion, a sympathy card or an eloquent thank-you note, Just a Note to Say . . . helps you speak from the heart.

Customer Reviews:

Not so great.......2007-06-08

I wanted less ideas and more actual words to write in cards. If I have to think it up myself, why do I need a book? I'm already thinking it up myself now. I wanted something more like lists of choices of things to say in cards for each occasion. This book gives a few for each occasion. Not enough, in my opinion.

Nice book to have on hand........2007-01-05

Very cute book with good advice for writing notes.

For Sincere Expressions In Writing Those Notes........2005-11-28

Written by a past president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, there is a new (updated and expanded) volume of this little book informing us on the importance of sending personal notes and giving ideas of how to go about it. "There are certain general guidelines which apply to every occasion." The right words are readily accessible if you know how to find them.

"Good notes are gestures to celebrate, commemorate, and nuture relationships between people. They're about connecting and communicating and saying "I care." Quotations can be used to make a significant statement for the send, but it's important to choose those which suits the occasion or person and reflects you as well. "It's not what you say; it's how you say it." Limit advice. Give it only of it means something and represents wisdom gleaned from your own experience.

"When you write...there is an enormous sense of satisfaction. You feel 'when I write, I speak a whole different language...it's as if a poetic part of me seems to spill out." You don't have to write a lot to say a lot. This communications etiquette expert includes forms to use for sympathy notes, celebrations (consider the occasion) and notes just to say "You touched my life."

We're all human and make mistakes. "A quick, sincere apology can soothe hurt feelings, heal a rift, and strengthen your relationship." Apology is a good device to free the person who offers it, but it must be accepted by the person you may have offended. "It's best to apologize in person, on the phone, or in a note in the mail. But...e-mail is okay." It removes the awkwardness of apologizing, acts as a "buffer" and allows the writer to say exactly what is neeeded without interruption."

Florence Isaacs gives proper protocol for e-mail and the occasions when it is accepted. She has also written BUSINESS NOTES: PERSONAL NOTES THAT BUILD PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS, MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES, and HERE'S TO YOU (TOAST OR TRIBUTE), 2002. The 2005 edition of this handbook has just been made available. If you need a bit of help saying the right thing at the right time, check this one out.

90% How To and only 10% samples.......2004-10-14

Although the sample notes were very good, they could have incorporated many more samples instead of the How To's and Scenario Set-ups necessitating the Notes.

oodles of concise, eloquent examples.......2003-04-20

At first I thought this might be too simplistic a guide to social and personal notes, then I found myself getting choked up in the chapter on "Writing Notes for Difficult Moments." The author is straightforward, friendly, and sensible, and she blends sensitivity with emotion in just the right mix, facing illness, AIDS, cancer, and impending death with clarity and compassion. She also gives snappy suggestions for graduation, holiday, and congratulatory notes, and devotes additional attention to writing to children and teenagers. The book gives such heartfelt, meaningful examples of short notes that if you keep a copy on your writing desk you need never be at a loss for words again.

Heartfelt Thank Yous: Perfect Ways for Brides to Say Thank You (Clark, Beverly)

Average customer rating:

Excellent book
Ummmm....are you serious
Excellent Book
I couldn't have written them all without this book!!

Heartfelt Thank Yous: Perfect Ways for Brides to Say Thank You (Clark, Beverly)
Beverly Clark
Manufacturer: Beverly Clark Collection
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0934081190

Book Description

Being showered with wedding gifts is a wonderful experience, but making sure to thank all of the gift givers can be overwhelming and exhausting. Drawing on her vast experience in wedding etiquette, Beverly Clark offers readers information on how to write personalized thank-yous that will make every recipient feel special.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book.......2007-10-03

As a calligrapher in the wedding business I was looking for books to recommend to brides from my website. I found this book to be a little gem of information. It won't write your thank you's for you but it will guide you through the do's and don'ts using basic common sense. It has a helpful thesaurus and several sample notes to help you get past the writers block you will inevitably get when you sit down for this daunting task.

Ummmm....are you serious.......2007-04-26

This isn't the first time I've fallen for the mental game of "well, two people on Amazon loved it - it must be great" when purchasing an item. This book certainly falls into this category for me.

I read the book cover to cover in about two hours (nice feature), but only received two or three helpful "etiquette" pointers. Other than that, I feel you're buying a book of basic common sense when it comes to writing a thank you.

Thus said, I've always been a decent writer, so....this book is probably more helpful for people that have a hard time finding what to say and how to say it. I, personally, do not have many reservations in this area.

So, in short, this book was not useful to me, but, not to be completely negative, it might be a good inspiration for those that feel writing a thank you is an extremely daunting task - that's just not me. º

Excellent Book.......2006-01-10

This book was a wonderful tool I used when writing thank you notes after my wedding.I got many compliments on how well written they were from many of our guests. It has helped me write thank you notes since my wedding for many other occasions. I think it is important to write a "heartfelt" thank you note to someone who took the time to purchase a gift or give you their time. In fact, now I get irritated when I get a thank you note with 2 sentences!

I couldn't have written them all without this book!!.......2002-02-15

This book is fantastic! It helped me slog through the 179 thank you notes I had to write after my wedding. There were lots of great ideas of what to say and how to say it, and beleive me, after about the 25th thank you note, I needed all the help I could get. There is good solid, practical advice as to how to manage the thank you note writing task as well as inspirational advice to help you stay properly focused and, well, thankful. All in all, it was indespensable!

Spelling 101: 101 Handy Rules and Simple Exercises Let You Be Letter-Perfect Every Time! (101 Rules Series)

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Spelling 101: 101 Handy Rules and Simple Exercises Let You Be Letter-Perfect Every Time! (101 Rules Series)
Claudia Sorsby
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Spelling | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0312959745

Book Description

Perfect spelling makes your writing look professional. You can master it now!You can't take your spell-checker everywhere you go. But today's competition demands sure and decisive writing-without errors that make you look careless and unprepared.Whether you write essay exams, business letters, e-mail, or thank-you notes, this book will ensure crisp, confident, well-spelled writing. Tips include:How to remember essential rules-and their exceptions-that are easy to forgetHow to beat the mistakes that will outwit your word processorTricks to memorize correct spelling-without wasting timeExpert guidance on how to get difficult words right, so you won't have to avoid themPlus a fast cross-referencing system that will guide you to the correct spelling of the most commonly misspelled wordsIf you want to spell any word-even the tough ones-without hesitation, put Spelling 101 in your briefcase, bookshelf, or bookbag.

Average customer rating:

Entertaining Read
More like 4.5 stars. Charming historical romance!
Another enjoyable read
Skip this
Entertaining Historical Fiction

Letter Perfect
Cathy Marie Hake
Manufacturer: Bethany House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0764201654
Release Date: 2006-08-01

Book Description

If her own two feet don't end up tripping her, Ruth Caldwell's mouth is likely to get her into equal trouble. But Ruth has the best of intentions. Truly. It's just that her attempts to live up to her mother's expectations of how a lady should act have often yielded.well, less than impressive results. Josh McCain is speechless when he sees Ruth step off the stage in Folsom, California. Sure, it looks like she's been sleeping in her gown for the past week, but with a crown of riotous curls and those deep green eyes, she's certainly the most beautiful woman he's ever met. But Josh soon finds the sparks that fly upon Ruth's arrival aren't the romantic type. With her legitimate claims to an inheritance, the Broken P Ranch's future is suddenly precarious. And when Ruth's "accidents"-going beyond even her normal bumbling ways-seem to take a sinister turn, Josh must decide where his loyalties lie.

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining Read.......2007-10-16

Cathy Marie Hake introduces Ruth Caldwell in an unforgettable story filled with humor, tears, and love.

Ruth is an obedient daughter - at least she tries to be. Her mother wishes her to attend a school for young ladies and to grow up properly. But Ruth's innocent mishaps at the latest school sends her home once again. Once home, Ruth realizes that her mother is dying. She concedes to her mother's dying wish that she live with her estranged father on his ranch in California.

Ruth's arrival to California not only causes uneasiness in her own heart, but in the lives of those she meets. She arrives in town only to discover that her father passed away several years ago and part of his ranch is now hers.

Joshua McCain and his father own the other half of the ranch. But until they can settle who the rightful owner is, with the help of a circuit judge, Ruth has nowhere to go. Joshua and his family invite her to stay at the ranch and she finds an instant friend in Josh's sister, Laney.

Life settles into a bit of a routine, albeit unpredictable as it seems Ruth has a wont for finding trouble. But the outhouse door falling on her and falling off of the sidewalk weren't really her fault - they were accidents. Joshua struggles between trying to protect her from herself and finding her humorous charm irresistible.

When Ruth's accidents turn into foul play, she and Josh learn to trust in their heavenly Father in a whole new way.

Cathy Marie Hake writes a wonderful story that will keep you turning the pages!

More like 4.5 stars. Charming historical romance!.......2007-07-28

This book took me a long time to finish, but not because it was boring. I didn't want to ruin the cover, and it was autographed, so I left it at home. Now that I've finished I wonder what took me so long. The story is charming and witty and the characters are engaging. I loved the suspenseful element of not knowing who was causing Ruth to have so many accidents. Then when the reader discovers who it is, the rest of the story keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering when the perpetrator is going to harm Ruth irrevocably.

The developing love between Ruth and Josh from their common faith and friendship was tender and precious. I really enjoyed that thread in the story; especially when Josh prayed for Ruth. There isn't a more romantic and intimate thing a man can do for the woman he loves than to pray for her concerns while tenderly holding her hands. Josh was the ultimate hero once he got past his concern that Ruth was going to steal his inheritance. The spiritual lessons that came out of this story were divine as well. Overall I'd recommend this story because it will put a smile on your face and keep you reading until the end...as long as it isn't autographed. :)

Another enjoyable read.......2007-05-28

I read Bittersweet first and found myself wanting to read more about the characters from the second book. Yet again, I found myself enjoying Letter Perfect from page 1. Excellent job, Cathy.

Skip this.......2007-05-06

First off, I confess I did not know this was a Christian book until after I purchased it at the big warehouse store. And I'm glad I bought it there instead of full price, this was a total waste of a day to get through this.

It's disappointing, as the story line could have had great possibilities and I loved the way Ruth was originally portrayed as a bit of a klutz. However, the characters were flat and uninteresting, either black or white with no gray areas between. There are pages and pages of useless conversations and characters that did not develop the story at all (especially Galen's family, I skipped many a chapter on them) and the big surprise of who the villain was (yawn!) was not much of a surprise at all. I mean, who else could it have been?

While I understand this is a Christian book, it seeped through virtually ever word of the book and much too preachy and overbearing for my tastes, and virtually no chemistry between Ruth and Josh. This was one of those books that I prayed for the end to come so I could toss it in the charity pile instead of on my bookshelf to be read again and again.

Entertaining Historical Fiction.......2007-02-24

Seeing as this book has gotten mixed reviews I wasn't sure what I would think. I'm not a huge fan of Christian fiction, but I picked up this book initially because the back cover sounded interesting.
I did enjoy the story, Ruth a bumbling imperfect lady who is sent to California and could claim part of the ranch the McCain family has come to own, and I thought the characters and setting were wonderfully rich. I liked that the author included a lot of historical facts to make here setting rich and colorful-such as the building of the railroad, an upcoming election, the Pony Express. I also thought the twist in the plot was a great one-although it did become a little forced and too crazy in the end and I felt it took awhile to get there. I didn't mind the extra subplot about the O'Sullivan's as they are main characters for the authors next book.
As far as what I didn't like, I found the book to be overly preachy at times. The characters acted and spoke in ways that the perfect Christian characters would which at times I found a little annoying. I also thought the story dragged a bit and that the characters talked in circles a lot-will Ruth claim the ranch, yes, no, yes no-I didn't understand why it was taking so long for that part to develop!
All in all, the story is a good one and worth reading. The characters are beautiful-even if they are sometimes too perfect-and the twist in the story makes it worthwhile. I fail to call it a romance as the romance is very subtle and seems to come on suddenly, but it is rich historical fiction. I am looking forward to reading the author's next novel, Bittersweet, as it revolves around Laney and Galen. If you are looking for a wholesome, fun read, than Letter Perfect is something you will enjoy.

Letter Perfect: The Marvelous History of Our Alphabet From A to Z

Average customer rating:

accessible, light, and fun
Think you're a wordmeister?
Required Reading
Language Visible
Misinformation and Euro-centric

Letter Perfect: The Marvelous History of Our Alphabet From A to Z
David Sacks
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Linguistics | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0767911733
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Book Description

David Sacks has embarked on a fun, lively, and learned excursion into the alphabet–and into cultural history–in Letter Perfect. Clearly explaining the letters as symbols of precise sounds of speech, the book begins with the earliest known alphabetic inscriptions (circa 1800 b.c.), recently discovered by archaeologists in Egypt, and traces the history of our alphabet through the ancient Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans and up through medieval Europe to the present day. But the heart of the book is the twenty-six fact-filled “biographies” of letters A through Z, each one identifying the letter’s particular significance for modern readers, tracing its development from ancient forms, and discussing its noteworthy role in literature and other media. We learn, for example, why letter X may have a sinister and sexual aura, how B came to signify second best, why the word mother in many languages starts with M. Combining facts both odd and essential, Letter Perfect is cultural history at its most accessible and enjoyable.

Customer Reviews:

accessible, light, and fun.......2007-08-12

In the first section Sacks explains the latest discoveries and research on the history of our alphabet, which is more electrifying that it might sound. The portraits of each letter flow from historical to pop-cultural references for an overall accessible, light, and fun read.

Think you're a wordmeister?.......2007-01-11

Those of us who proudly stand at the barriers opposing the ever-increasing surge of language barbarism can use all the ammunition made available to us. Mr. Sacks' wonderfully readable little book is filled with facts and historigraphical flitchettes on the amazing English tongue that suits this purpose. Additionally, even word-warriors can occasionally have fun... and this great little gem is loaded with tidbits that will often cause the reader to say "ummm, I didn't know that;" or simply chuckle out loud. For the curious, if you ever wondered why our language looks like it does, this is the book for you.

Required Reading.......2006-04-09

This book is a great one to own and to read over and over again. There's a few annoying typos but I would still whole-heartedly recommend it to each and everyone. Especially for those who tend to take for granted the supposedly entrenched institutions of "civilized" society, discovering the quirky and arbitrary history of the English alphabet will make their innocent heads spin. I vote that this book should be required reading in American public education.

Language Visible.......2005-10-18

In a book which is occasionally and only slightly heavy, but never once baffling or difficult to follow, the author takes a journey through the letters of the alphabet. With likable charm, he explains the history of the alphabet and then devotes 26 chapters to the letters from A to Z.

Most wonderful of all, he's not remotely snobbish in his references, citing each letter's importance to our language and culture in ways that range from the highbrow to the lowbrow, simply reporting upon each as it stands in use today. One of the greatest things about the book is its slight repetitiveness, which serves to embed a teaching of the history of the alphabet in a way that is, it should be noted, *never* monotonous or boring. And in ways that are fun and interesting, he flashes briefly, once in a great while, upon moments of his personal history that reflect the cultural history of each letter.

A beautifully designed book, with numerous stories that cover each letter to near-exhaustion. But it's never exhausting; instead, I come away from it understanding, for the first time, the history of our alphabet -- in a way that enriches each letter's place in the lexicon of the insane mishmash of influences which is "English as we know it." This book is a bit like a conversation with a friend; Shakespeare would have been delighted.

Misinformation and Euro-centric.......2005-10-12

You can tell I don't pay attention to Wall Street Journal or New York Times. I picked up David Sacks' book from Borders' Linguistics stack because of the title. I should have known better.

I started the first chapter and didn't have the time or intention to finish it. The book is a collection of charts and stories about the history of alphabetic writing that are to be expected from the title -- in some cases conviniently summarized things in tables and maps -- but lacks, in my opinion, systematic thinking on the reasons behind the origin and prosperity of alphabetic writing that is found in other scholarly works (scholarly it is not).

Even within the first 20 pages or so, I was disawayed more than a few times by dubious claims, utter misinformation, and distastefully Euro/English-centric. Here are some examples:

"The alphabet was not the earliest writing: Egypt, Mesopotamia, and probably China already had nonalphabetic systems. But the alphabet was the most efficient writing system ever found, before or since (p.1)" -- What about Hirogana for Japanese? Syllabaries can be much more efficient for languages that do not have a large inventory of syllables.

"The 'spreadability' of an alphabet means that the future of our Roman letters looks very bright indeed. (p. 10)" -- He was speaking of languages that are written in multiple alphabets, such as Swahili, Serbo-Croatian, Urdu/Hindi, and Yiddish. And then came this proud comment on the prospect "our Roman letters". Immediately following the above quote, he gave examples of Azerbaijian and Tatarstan's decision to switch to Roman, as well as other "struggling nation"'s likewise decisions to "switch to Roman letters for native tongues, as a big to tie into global trade and communications and to better prepare their prople to learn English. Tragically, much that is venerable and spiritually sustaining while be lost. Yet that seems inevitable in the 21st century were are shaping. And it is sobering to reflect that our 26 letters wield such power."

His view of the learnability of the alphabet is also uneducated, shall I say. The following superficial comment could have come from an old gradama who happened have NOT been a teacher for her lifetime.

"An alphabet enjoys on huge advantage over any other writing system: It needs fewer symbols. No other sysmtem can get away with so few. This makes an alphabet easier to learn. Students need memorize only two dozen or so letters to begin building toward literacy, which typically takes about another five years of instruction".

And -- he writes -- because of this simplicity, children can become literate before the working age. "This cricial fact has made the alphabet historically the vehicle of mass literacy. (p.5)" Well, "vehicle" is a very clevery way of framing it. At least he is not saying that where there is alphabet there is mass literacy. Mass literacy was nevery a goal before the inducstry revolution. Now Sacks joins the ranks of you-know-who's by implying that the Europeans and Western ideals were destined to take over the world because they had the alphabet and probably the mandate from God. (Guns, what guns?)

Sacks also compared "our 26 letters" -- as if alphabetic writing is patented at the USPO -- to Chinese. "Today Chinese schoolchildren normally take three years longer than Western children to learn to read and write, with most of that
extra time devoted to mastering the symbols."

This is completely misinformation. Learning to read Chinese is not easy, but do a little research, you will find studies over studies and books over books on comparitive studies of literacy (including my own). I've nevery seen a credible study that substantiates the 3-year lag. By the way, Sacks almost never gives citations.

I think that's enough. This explains my total disappointment with the book -- I sholdn't have any high expectation from the start, had I known who David Sacks is.

A Wanderer in the Perfect City: Selected Passion Pieces

Average customer rating:

Weschler is a Superb Non-Fiction Writer
Classic -- at least for me
curious look into eccentric lives

A Wanderer in the Perfect City: Selected Passion Pieces
Lawrence Weschler
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Essays | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0226893901

Amazon.com

A few months ago, a friend I was talking with began to tell me about a friend of his named Gary Isaacs, who was working at the downtown headquarters of one of the city's top investment houses as an executive in the division monitoring the savings-and-loan crisis. Though Isaacs was just thirty-two years old, my friend recounted, he had previously worked on the Street in several other capacities as well, and before that he'd had a notably successful career in an entirely different field; what's more, it seemed he was about to quit this one, too, and to head off in yet another direction. When I asked my friend what the previous career had been, and, for that matter, what the new one was going to be, he replied that it would be far more entertaining for me to hear the whole story from the man himself, which is how, a few days later, I came to find myself in the sleek elevator of one of downtown's better-known headquarters zooming up towards I didn't have the faintest idea what.

Lawrence Weschler is, simply put, one of the best journalists ever to have written for the New Yorker--of an equal rank to masters like Joseph Mitchell, Philip Hamburger, and John McPhee. Most of the articles in this volume were first published in 1988 as Shapinsky's Karma, Boggs's Bills, and Other True-Life Tales (the story of Boggs has been extracted and expanded into its own book); each of them profiles a creative individual who "works and works at something, which then happens of its own accord: it would not have happened without all the prior work, true, but its happening cannot be said to have resulted from all that work, the way effects are said to result from a series of causes." For republication, Weschler has provided updates on each of his subjects, from Maus creator Art Spiegelman to the now-deceased musical lexicographer Nicolas Slonimsky (whom Weschler profiled at the age of 92, and arguably at the peak of his career). He's also added two new "passion pieces," including a profile of comic artist Ben Katchor. A Wanderer in the Perfect City is as close to perfect as books get, and my advice to you is to get a copy, read it, and then reread it whenever your faith in literature needs restoring. If at all possible, get two copies, so you can share this graceful anthology yet never have to part with it. (Oh, and in case you were wondering, Gary Isaacs was a former rocket scientist who ran away from Wall Street to join the circus.) --Ron Hogan

Book Description

“There is something both marvelous and hilarious,” writes Lawrence Weschler, “in watching the humdrum suddenly take flight. This is, in part, a collection of such launchings.”

Indeed, the eight essays collected in A Wanderer in the Perfect City do soar into the realm of passion as Weschler profiles people who “were just moseying down the street one day, minding their own business, when suddenly and almost spontaneously, they caught fire, they became obsessed, they became intensely focused and intensely alive.” With keen observations and graceful prose, Weschler carries us along as a teacher of rudimentary English from India decides that his destiny is to promote the paintings of an obscure American abstract expressionist; a gifted poker player invents a more exciting version of chess; an avant-garde Russian émigré conductor speaks Latin, exclusively, to his infant daughter; and Art Spiegelman composes Maus. But simple summaries can’t do these stories justice: like music, they derive their character from digressions and details, cadence and tone. And like the upwelling of passion Weschler’s characters feel, they are better experienced than explained.

“Weschler seems so hungry for life that the rest of us become hungry for him . . . a magician, a performer, and a scholar. All in one.”—from the Foreword by Pico Iyer

“Weschler’s essays are exquisitely written—so perfectly and unobtrusively organized that one can’t imagine telling them a better way.” —New York Times Book Review

“Weschler is the owner of a large dose of novelistic vision, and a particularly poetic set of ears, but . . . as important an endowment as a novelist’s eye or a poet’s ear is still the journalistic nose which led him down the proverbial alley.”—National Post (Canada)

“Weschler is a thoughtful observer and a superb storyteller.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune

Customer Reviews:

Weschler is a Superb Non-Fiction Writer.......2006-08-17

The one thing that strikes me most about Weschler's writing is that he allows his subjects to talk. His quotes are long. One good thing about this is that the reader really gets to know the subjects well. It's almost like a Q&A format. Thus, there is very little room for subjective opinions in Weschler's writing; he tells it like it is.

This style leads, ultimately, to long articles -- one is almost 70 pages, the length of a short novella -- each naunce of the topic is covered from multiple perspectives, giving the reader a complete picture.

My favorite article in the book is about a former rocket scientist turned Wall Street broker turned circus clown. Weschler chronicles the decision of one MIT grad to live his life-long dream of attending clown school. Along the way, Weschler convolves Aerospace engineering, bond trading, and circus performing, and allows the reader to see why each activity is just as difficult as the next.

Recommended for all aspiring non-fiction writers. Study the craft of Lawrence Weschler!

Classic -- at least for me.......2002-03-01

I bought this collection from Amazon without any knowledge whatsoever of its contents or scope: I had read some Weschler pieces years and years ago with great profit, and after having randomly encountered his "Mr Wilson's Cabinet Of Wonder" recently, wanted to re-acquaint myself with his work. Imagine then my shock and delighted astonishment to find "Wanderer In The Perfect City" to be an almost complete re-issue of his "Shapinsky's Karma, Boggs' Bills," a beautifully made volume (printed by the North Point Press, seemingly defunct now, alas) of beautifully written "passion pieces," so-called in that they're focussed on artists singularly focussed (alternates: obsessed; crazed) upon a visionary (alt. quirky; really quirky) purpose that consumes and sustains their lives, their artistic being. A better review than this one would now list some examples of what I've just written, but unfortunately for you I'm only writing this review; and to be honest, a list of "those kooky artists and their kooky dreams!" would be a disservice to the sympathetic care Weschler employs in these portraits.

Reading the original edition of "Shapinsky's Karma, Bogg's Bills" was one of my watershed discoveries made at the time of life when everything is a discovery. "Shapinsky's Karma..." was an eye-opener for me, an inspiration; it was also the second hardcover book I'd ever bought, a weighty commitment for a boy like me, but a most fortuitous one. (The first hardcover I ever bought was "Heretics of Dune." _That_ wasn't nearly as inspirational.)

Coming across "Shapinsky's Karma..." again in this new form and fourteen years later, is therefore an occasion of some contemplation and a little rue: to remember the impressionable kid I first reading that beautifully blue tome; and to see it again in this perfectly fine edition, a little faded, a little dated. Some of its subjects who languished in relative obscurity back in 1988 have become well-known, like Boggs and Spiegelman; a great many others seem to have simply faded away. Perhaps this is an indirect demonstration of passion and its curatives, its flutterings and gutterings.

This new edition differs from the original in that the 1988 piece on Mark Boggs has been pulled; Weschler has expanded it into book-length. It's been supplanted with a piece on, I think, Ben Katchor, or whoever the "Mr. Knipl" cartoonist is.

curious look into eccentric lives.......1999-05-02

In this book the author writes nonfiction articles about various interesting characters. He talks to an art promoter, a cartoonist and all sorts of others. The art promoter was an Indian who discover an unknown abstract expressionist in New York, and gets him know in the art world. It's a strange thing how it works out. There is something funky, and offbeat about all these characters, but what is really cool about the authors writing, is that it is very easy too imagine what these people are like. Very cool book.

Perfect Phrases for Cover Letters (Perfect Phrases)

Average customer rating:

Well Written

Perfect Phrases for Cover Letters (Perfect Phrases)
Michael Betrus
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Guides | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Resumes | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Human Resources & Personnel Management | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0071454063

Book Description

Whether it's interviewing for a job, evaluating employee performance, setting goals for the future, or keeping customers happy, the Perfect Phrases series has the tools for precise, effective business communication. Distilling complex ideas into specific phrases that diplomatically and honestly depict the concepts at hand, this invaluable series provides:

Ways to enhance customer service in any business
Dialogues and scripts to practice interactions with customers or employees--tailorable to any industry or company culture
The best answers to a wide range of interview questions
Tips for documenting performance issues and conducting face-to-face reviews

The ideal reference for anyone trying to create the most professional and polished cover letter possible, this book offers phrases that help create a strong first impression for prospective employers.

Customer Reviews:

Well Written.......2007-03-14

This is a short but well written tool to use in writing cover letters. It doesn't cover much "theory", but rather an assortment of examples for different situations. It also has example letters for thing such as requesting career advice, reference letters, resignation, and networking. It sticks to the basics but has better writing and examples than most other books I've seen.

Writing Thank-You Notes: Finding The Perfect Words

Average customer rating:

Writing Thank-You Notes: Finding the Perfect Words
A Disappointment
A How To Primer For Writing Thank You Notes
A must for every household!
a pleasure just to read

Writing Thank-You Notes: Finding The Perfect Words
Gabrielle Goodwin , and David Macfarlane
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Ethics & Morality | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Etiquette | Reference | Subjects | Books

Writing Skills | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 080694210X

Book Description

Take the stress out of writing personal, heartfelt notes of appreciation with this handy, helpful guide. Discover when etiquette dictates a thank-you note be sent. Learn the basic elements that go into the “how-to”s of writing the note. Featuring dozens of sample notes and discussions of style.

Customer Reviews:

Writing Thank-You Notes: Finding the Perfect Words.......2005-08-30

The book has quite a selection of different thank-you, unfortunately, it didn't have any on the subject I was looking for, which was thank-you's for expressions of sympathy.

A Disappointment.......2002-06-11

I was extremely disappointed when I received this book. First of all, someone giving advice on writing thank you notes should know that it is improper to begin them with "thank you" as the first sentence. Secondly, the sample notes are so contrived that you probably would not want to pull ideas or words from them to write your own. I suggest you sample a different book if you are seeking help in the area of thank you notes.

A How To Primer For Writing Thank You Notes.......2000-01-02

Great resource for writing every kind of thank you note. This book is loaded with sample letters for every occassion. I enjoyed reading the book and will keep it in my office to refer to in the future. I feel I got my money's worth with this purchase.

A must for every household!.......1999-08-18

this is an excellent "How To" book on a subject that "should be" part of everyday life. It is written with humor and is easy to read. The examples and the text are helpful. This is a great gift for a young person starting out or anyone who needs a little reinforcement in etiquette.

a pleasure just to read.......1999-05-19

I saw this book at a bed and breakfast we were staying in. On my return I orderded multiple copies to give to friends. It is so well and I will say so sweetly written that everyone should read it just for fun. The author's use a common and kindly sense approach toward writing thank you notes that makes it fun to do rather than a task. They cover a range of reasons for thank you's as well as approaches. A must buy!

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