National Geographic Almanac of American History (National Geographic)

Average customer rating:

National Geographic Almanac of American History (National Geographic)

A lot of useful info!

Must have for all ages!

National Geographic Almanac of American History (National Geographic)
James Miller , and John Thompson
Manufacturer: National Geographic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
Reference | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
General | World | History | Subjects | Books
Almanacs | Almanacs & Yearbooks | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Almanac of World History (National Geographic)

National Geographic Visual History of the World (National Geographic)

National Geographic Concise History of the World: An Illustrated Time Line (Timeline)

The Great American History Fact-Finder: The Who, What, Where, When, and Why of American History, Updated & Expanded Edition

National Geographic Almanac of Geography (National Geographic Almanacs)

ASIN: 0792283686
Release Date: 2005-12-06

Book Description

Featuring stunning images, revealing maps, historic facts, and concise analysis, the National Geographic Almanac of American History is carefully balanced to provide readers with a deeper comprehension of United States history.

The Almanac is unparalleled in its reader-friendly format: the book's four major sections are enhanced by a thorough table of contents, a detailed index, and bibliography, plus a feature on how to use the book. Section 1 explores America's geologic makeup and answers the question, "How was the land responsible for the way in which America developed?" Milestones comprise section 2: Twelve essays discuss how America evolved to become the global leader it is today. Section 3 covers the major eras in America's history, beginning with the earliest Native Americans. The final section of the book covers: Leaders, Wars, Religion and Beliefs, Presidents, and finally, Milestone Documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, and more.

With an introduction by Hugh Ambrose, historian and a founding director of The National D-Day Museum, the National Geographic Almanac of American History is a timely and essential resource that every American should own.

Customer Reviews:

National Geographic Almanac of American History (National Geographic).......2007-05-12

I think this book a well written consist summary of American history. The reason I did not rate it 5 stars is because of the opening statement on page 14. This book, backed by National Geographic, states that the world we live in was created by a "big bang" 15 billions ago. This is not a proven fact. This is one man's idea. I am surprised that National Geographic accepts this as a proven fact and gives this book their stamp of approval. It has lowered my opinion of a life long trusted name.

A lot of useful info!.......2007-04-04

Great book: easy to read, very interesting and we must know history of country. When you begin to read it - it just will takes you all until you complete the book! Full of illustrations and copies of actual historical documents. Good to own it and have it on your shelf, getting back to it periodically :)

Must have for all ages!.......2006-08-26

I had borrowed this book from our local library and was very impressed. There's so much information in it and so many great pictures...it is worth having on your shelf and you will refer to it often as you look up historical words or questions you run into, your children can use it for school...It is the only book of this kind, that I could find, that has the entire history and is not concentrating on just one time-period or subject abt. American history. I also bought the "world history" one from National Georaphic. It is a great price and I haven't seen it at this price anywhere else (trust me I've done some research before buying).

Almanac of World History (National Geographic)

Average customer rating:

Not really World History
Great Reference
Wonderful Reference Book
I Rate and Compare World History Atlas Books
world history

Almanac of World History (National Geographic)
Pat Daniels
Manufacturer: National Geographic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Reference | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Human Geography | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Almanacs | Almanacs & Yearbooks | Reference | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0792250923
Release Date: 2003-11-01

Book Description

With authoritative and enlightening essays and detailed maps, charts, and time lines, National Geographic Almanac of World History encapsulates in one volume all of the important people and events that have changed the world. In chronological chapters, this amazing almanac reveals the fascinating story of the growth and change of society, from the Neanderthals to the nuclear age.

Culled from the extensive National Geographic archives, Almanac of World History includes more than 220 maps, photographs, and illustrations to enhance readers' understanding of history. Each chapter features three types of easy-to-access entries, including lively introductory spreads that are filled with time lines, charts, images, and sidebars; essay spreads that give more in-depth information on a person, place, or event; and finally, summary spreads that reveal what was happening simultaneously in other parts of the world.

Rich in cartography, information, and illustrations, National Geographic Almanac of World History is an indispensable tool for understanding both past and present.

Customer Reviews:

Not really World History.......2007-04-01

The latter half of this book is clearly a "Western" History Almanac. It basically discusses other countries' involvements in western countries' affairs. Also, there was too much info on domestic issues in the U.S.-- that information should be reserved for the U.S. almanac!! I gave it 3/5 b/c the beginning was informational.

Great Reference.......2006-11-20

I learned more from this book than all my history classes. It compresses the history of humans from the beginning telling facts using diagrams and maps. It tells us how the human world evolved from nothing to what it is today.

Wonderful Reference Book.......2006-02-03

National Geographic Almanac of World History is a wonderful resource. The Chronological Chapters, Maps, Time-lines and Introductory Threads are easy to use. A very nice addition to add to your library.

I Rate and Compare World History Atlas Books.......2005-12-19

As a reader I like to have quick reference books at my finger tips including a new version of the Oxford English Dictionary about 3500 pages long - that I use almost daily. So I decided to add a "history atlas". In the process of doing my research I read the other amazon.com reviewers and then made three trips to two large book stores to actually look at the books and get a better feel for which was the best. I ended up buying the Oxford Atlas of World History. Here are my picks and rankings.

Listed by My ranking, #1 is the best, #2 is a creative alternative but no substitute.

1. Atlas of World History, Oxford University Press 2002, 368 pages, (...), 13.5" x 10.3" x 1.62" ranked 46,632 on Amazon.com. Hands down winner - professional - good text descriptions, outstanding maps and drawings, covers most things from the cave man forward. Negatives: Big and heavy. If you want to save a few dollars buy the "concise" version.

2. Creative alternative: The Penguin Atlas of World History, Penguin Books 2004, (...), just a paperback sized, just published, 304 pages. Surprisingly impressive, lots of text and pictures mixed together and it is easy to carry around. A nice quick alternative but it will be printed in two volumes.

3. Timelines of World History, DK Publishing 2002, 666 pages, (...). 10.0" x 1.6" ranked 25,800 on Amazon.com. Second with lots of value but in some ways not as comprehensive.

4. National Geographic Almanac of World History, National Geographic 2003, 384 pages, (...), 9.6" x 7.8" x 1.17" ranked 24,426 on Amazon.com. Similar to but less impressive than Oxford books. More text, narrower coverage, fewer maps and drawings.

5. DK Atlas of World History, DK Publishing, 352 pages,(...), 10.96" x 14.66" x 1.28" ranked 10,716 on Amazon.com. My last place book seems like a giant comic book. I love the DK travel books but this seems like one step beyond DK's area of expertise. Superficially it is similar to the Oxford book and it is cheap, and some might like it but it tries to be politically correct and fails.

6. Oxford Dictionary of World History, Oxford University Press, 704 pages, (...), pocketbook sized, sales rank 330,000. Mainly terms, people, and dates but has a few maps also. Limited use but an alternative. I prefer the new Penguin book but this is the best history dictionary to buy.

world history.......2005-09-06

Excellent work by Patricia Daniels and Stephen Hyslop for National Geographic.
A great volume to have in your home

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.

Average customer rating:

Interesting but dense
An Excellent Book
A fascinating and captivating account of the Boston Irish

The Boston Irish: A Political History
Thomas H. O'Connor
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

History & Theory | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0316626619

Customer Reviews:

Interesting but dense.......2007-08-04

This book reads more like a textbook than anything else. The pages are dense with factual, historical information. It is interesting but, if you are looking for an easy read describing the Irish immigrant journey into and through Boston history, this is not the book for you.

An Excellent Book.......2002-06-04

I grew up in Boston in the 40's and 50's, Roxbury actually. I left in 1959 when I was 19. I view it as having escaped. The neighborhood was virtually all Irish Catholic.

My parents, while not active in party politics were very politically conscious. Their political philosophy was quite simple. Roosevelt's Democrats walked on water; the Republicans were for the rich and against the poor (we, of course, were poor). To this day, over 43 years after leaving their house, I have a bit of trouble pulling the lever for a Republican candidate.

As I grew older I realized that their philosophy, which was generally shared by all in the neighborhood, created problems such as complacency and corruption. In our neighborhood the Boston police from Station # 9 made no effort to conceal what they were doing while they picked up their payoffs from the many bookie joints along Dudley Street. Whenever the state investigated a corrupt official or the very corrupt Boston Police Dept. my mother would say that it was just the Republicans taking their revenge on good Irish Catholics. Somehow she always knew that these good Irish Catholics went to mass every morning. The corruption and incompetence in front of her made no difference in her thinking.

Professor O'Connor's book helped me understand how my parents came to develop these political attitudes. Much of what he talked about still existed in the Boston Irish neighborhoods while I was growing up. I suspect to some extent it still does. I just finished reading "All Souls: A Family Story From Southie" by Michael Patrick McDonald. This is a very sad story which shows just how much the Irish Catholic's in South Boston have allowed their communities to degrade and allowed themselves to be snowed by their own Irish Catholic politicians.

If you have any interest in Boston political history or Irish American history you will love this book. I'm sure that the history of the Irish in Boston is similar to the Irish in most major US cities.

A fascinating and captivating account of the Boston Irish.......1998-05-19

From their persecution and famine in their homeland, to their struggles at survival in America, this book traces the history of Boston's largest and most vocal inhabitants. O'Connor does a remarkable job in tracing the numerous stuggles the Boston Irish faced, and how it shaped their attitudes today. The book is loaded with anecdotes and tales from of Boston more famous characters: from James Michael Curley to Bill Flynn. The book, by detailing the Irish political machines at the turn of the century, provides us with the mindset that has controlled Boston politics for over a century. Entertaining throughout, it is scary how much about Boston and its politics one can learn.

The Rascal King: The Life and Times of James Michael Curley (1874-1958)

Average customer rating:

Good Research, Flawed and Stilted Journalism
Flawed
The subject is great but the book isn't
Comprehensive, with one missing aspect
Excellent work marred by personal opinion

The Rascal King: The Life and Times of James Michael Curley (1874-1958)
Jack Beatty
Manufacturer: Da Capo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Irish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Political | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0306810026

Book Description

Twice-jailed scoundrel and the people's champion, builder of hospitals and schools and shameless grafter, compelling orator and master of political farce, James Michael Curley was the stuff of legend long before his life became fiction in Edwin O'Connor's classic novel The Last Hurrah. As mayor of Boston, as congressman, as governor of Massachusetts, Curley rose from the Irish slums in a career extending from the Progressive Era of Teddy Roosevelt to the ascendancy of JFK. Beatty's spellbinding story of this remarkable man-and of his city, his people, and his times-is biography at its best.

Customer Reviews:

Good Research, Flawed and Stilted Journalism.......2005-07-20

For a journalist, author Beatty, doesn't seem to care about balance. His historical research is great and filled in some gaps for me, but his personal spin is not objective and anti-Curley. The author wonders what Curley's son Francis would think of the author's use of the information and perspectives he provided. Easy answer, Jack, he'd be spinning in his grave. You've done a good man a great disservice. My advice for those who wonder whether to buy this book - pass, read it at the library.

Flawed.......2002-04-06

As a life long Massachusetts resident born after Curley's death, I have heard antidotes about James M Curley for years and hoped this book would provide the details of this interesting character. But I have to agree with a couple of the previous reviewers, the author's handing of this subject is a bit weak. The early childhood section was the worst, just a string of antidotes that bounce back and forth thru time becoming almost impossible to follow. The author also apparently brought into this work his own personal political agenda. Written in 1992, the author 'liberally' inserts poor and in some cases run on analogies to the Reagan - Bush administrations. I can still recommend this book to those interested in Curley, the books coverage of his career is excellent, just be prepared to skim through the sections where the author vents his political beliefs.

The subject is great but the book isn't.......2002-02-27

I read "The Rascal King" after reading Edwin O'Connor's great "The Last Hurrah," a barely fictional account of Curley's reign over Boston. I have to say that O'Connor achieved with fiction what Beatty failed to do with biography... paint a realistic picture of the fascinating life and times of James M. Curley.

Beatty's work, while greatly researched, was extremely choppy and amateurishly written. His timeline is vague and, at points, difficult to follow. He feels it necessary to interject into Curley's story several times with poorly made comparisons to present day political situations, as well very annoying literary references. (He consistently refers to Curley's arrogance of power as Massachusetts governor as a "Xanadu complex." Why not just call him arrogant?). Overall, it felt like Beatty was trying too hard.

Structural and literay problems aside, James Curley has one of the most interesting stories in 20th century American history. His use of "race baiting" against Boston's old Yankee elite (although "nationality baiting" may be more appropriate a term), his questionable campaign tactics, his dubious financial activities as an elected official, and his compassion and kindnes towards the forgotten common man make him one of the great populist leaders of our history. He was the quintessential campaigner and politician. It's too bad Beatty couldn't do him justice.

Comprehensive, with one missing aspect.......2000-12-15

Having been only two years old at Curley's death in 1858, Jack Beatty's book got me up to speed in a hurry. It details not only his life story, but of all of the maneuvering going on behind the scenes" - shrewd is not the half of it. It mentions some principled stands that Curley took, offset by some rapacious greed. And, Beatty suggests that Curley invented modern-day "race-baiting" long ahead of the George Wallaces and Al Sharptons of this world.

For all of its detail, the book is lacking a conclusionary chapter at the end. Jack Beatty has given us all of the pieces (in, once again, comprehensive detail) but doesn't sum them up. For all of his strengths, did James Curley set back the cause of Irish-American politics? For all of his faults, was the average citizen of Boston better off with him (a la George Bailey)? We may need another source for this - for now, Jack Beatty has given us the building blocks.

Excellent work marred by personal opinion.......1999-07-19

I read this book once and very much want to read it a second time. The historical accuracy is great and the writing style flows nicely. The only drawback I found was the author's propensity to interject his personal opinions as the situation of interest to him arose. If you do what I did, and skip over these "soapbox" opines, you will find this a most satisfying book.

Average customer rating:

The Boston Irish A Political History
Thomas H. O'Connor
Manufacturer: Northwestern Univ. Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J0ZIBW

Average customer rating:

The Boston Irish: A Political History
Thomas H. O'Connor
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K9V2MQ

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