Advanced Social Psychology

Book Description

This edited text is written by some of the most visible, productive scholars and instructors in each of the areas the text covers. The book was designed to capture the excitement and vitality of this ongoing, open-ended area of research.

Customer Reviews:

The best social psychology textbook that's never been updated.......2006-11-22

Abraham Tesser did a fantastic job of assembling the top names in social psychology in 1994 to write this book. Scholars such as Susan Fiske, Daniel Gilbert, and Robert Cialdini wrote a chapter each on the core topics of social psychology. They also presented a lecture, and the complete 12-part lecture series is available on video.

The only problem is, this book gives a fantastic insight into where social psychology was a decade ago, but much research has since been conducted. This is such a pity, because there are few social psychology textbooks that are written for students in 3rd-year to graduate-level courses. Most social psychology books are directed to either introductory students, the general public, or academic audiences. This book filled a gap (catering for advanced students), but has now fallen a little behind the times. It gets five stars for what it was, and for the fact that most of its content is still relevant.

One-stop shopping.......2004-12-18

Tesser has gathered a formidable anthology representing the best and brightest of the field. I am impressed by the clarity and relative 'timelessness' of the research he chose and the way each author rose to the occasion to present her or his projects in such a way that a layman could grasp its significance. I have seen the text used in graduate courses, but the language is such that, although challenging, it could be digested by an upper-level undergraduate class.

Top-notch, up-to-date, scholarly, yet entertaining.......1997-12-07

It is rare to come across a scholarly textbook of research that is relatively understandable to lay people and beginning researchers. Yet Tesser's _Advanced Social Psychology_ succeeds where others fail. It is unlike other disciplinary or subdisciplinary textbooks, written by a single author covering tons of ground. This book is an anthology of reviews describing cutting-edge research in Social Psychology by those who are doing the cutting - the most prominent researchers in the field describing the state of their specialty. So while one does not get the perfectly smooth ('processed') feel of a textbook written by a single author, one gets an intimate feel for what is really being done, and a feel for what is on the horizon, for each line of inquiry by the people who are most interested in the area.

Another outstanding facet of this anthology is the vibrance held within its pages, precisely because it was not written by a single author. Each chapter displays the personality of its author(s). And each is written with the student in mind, not only the attempt to relay information. The book, depite its relative brevity, is filled with (often humorous) examples and illustrations. Terminology, critical to any discipline, is spelled out at the beginning to assure a common ground between author and reader. And, as a book on Social Psychology, the research areas are incredibly interesting and personally relevant: Attitude Change (R. E. Petty), Social Influence (R. B. Cialdini), Attraction and Relationships (M. S. Clark & S. P. Pataki), and Prejudice (P. G. Devine), to name a few. Each chapter educates and intrigues the reader into the complexities of our daily lives that comprise modern social psychological research. This is a must-read for anyone who wishes to gain a better understanding of how the world works and appreciates intellectual challenges. And Tesser's _Advanced Social Psychology_ is the clear choice for both undergraduate and graduate courses in the area.

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.

Greece Athens & the Mainland (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

Average customer rating:

Nice pictures, but not enough information
Eyewitness travel guides are fantastic
Good tourbook
Only half the story
Great photos, not so much of a tour book

Greece Athens & the Mainland (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
DK Publishing
Manufacturer: DK Travel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Vinyl Bound

General | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0756626366

Customer Reviews:

Nice pictures, but not enough information.......2007-08-02

I usually use Lonely Planet and Green Guide (Guide Vert) but I read a lot of negative reviews about LP, so I gave Eyewitness a try. The photos and diagrams were fantastic - they really helped me make some choices about what to see compared to LP. And I particularly appreciated the diagrams of how many of the ancient sites such as Corinth, Delphi, and Olympia used to look, because you need some help when you see these ruins. Neither LP or Green Guide had these consistently.

My main problem was that it didn't have a lot of useful information, or if it did it was hard to find. The book's organization isn't too good - for a given site or city it has information about the city in terms of tourism or practical all over the place. Green Guide has much better practical maps, which are in color and cover a larger geographic area. Eyewitness is great when you get to the site you want to see, but it is not so useful to find the sites.

Also, compared to LP and Green Guide it has a lot less historical and explanatory information. And in terms of total number of places covered, I have the impression that Eyewitness has less than others. There's a price for nice, glossy photos.

Finally, not that it's critical, but my binding broke within a day, though the book cover mostly kept the book together.

I think I will only buy Eyewitness again in special circumstances.

Eyewitness travel guides are fantastic.......2007-06-09

These is no other that eyewitness guides...purchase and enjoy all aspects.

Good tourbook.......2007-06-08

The tourbook is organized very well with history, maps, restaurants, hotels, etc and the colored pictures are excellent. The size makes an ideal companion when travelling.

Only half the story.......2007-06-05

It is a shame that DK publishing divides Greece into two separate books, one for the mainland and one for offshore islands. It forces you to buy and carry both books for complete coverage of the country. Even places that are quite close to each other geographically are in separate books, if one happens to be on the mainland, and the other on a nearby offshore island.Greek Islands (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

Great photos, not so much of a tour book.......2007-05-19

This book has great photos. I always enjoy looking at DK Publishing's books - they are so pretty. However, if you are looking for a true travel guide, this is not the book.

Average customer rating:

Doesn't deliver what it promises
"Magnum Opus"?
Simply the Best
Fantastic tale!
Unseemly Questions

Creation
Gore Vidal
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0394500156
Release Date: 1981-02-12

Amazon.com

In 445 B.C., Cyrus Spitama, the grandson of the prophet Zoroaster, is the Persian ambassador to the city of Athens. He has a rather caustic appreciation of his situation: "I am blind. But I am not deaf. Because of the incompleteness of my misfortune, I was obliged yesterday to listen for nearly six hours to a self-styled historian whose account of what the Athenians like to call 'the Persian Wars' was nonsense of a sort that were I less old and more privileged, I would have risen to my seat at the Odeon and scandalized all Athens by answering him." Having thus dismissed Herodotus, Cyrus then dictates his life story to his nephew, Democritus, with similar disdain for the Greeks--whom we in the modern world have come to view as the progenitors of civilization, but whom Cyrus considers to be bad-smelling rabble.

Of course, Cyrus Spitama speaks with a very modern, ironic voice supplied to him by Gore Vidal--and the political intrigues in which Cyrus finds himself immersed are likewise familiar territory for fans of Vidal's historical fiction. But the narrator's delightfully wicked observations are the icing on a narrative of truly epic scope--out of his desire to understand the origins of the world, Cyrus undertakes journeys to India, where he encounters disciples of the Buddha, and China, where he engages Confucius in philosophical conversation while the great sage fishes by the riverside. Creation offers insights into classical history laced with scintillating wit and narrative brio.

Book Description

Once again the incomparable Gore Vidal interprets and animates history -- this time in a panoramic tour of the 5th century B.C. -- and embellishes it with his own ironic humor, brilliant insights, and piercing observations. We meet a vast array of historical figures in a staggering novel of love, war, philosophy, and adventure . . .
"There isn't a page of CREATION that doesn't inform and very few pages that do not delight."
-- John Leonard, The New York Times

Customer Reviews:

Doesn't deliver what it promises.......2007-09-23

You don't like a novel written by a legend and immediately, you feel guilty, even stupid. It's like standing in front of a very expensive painting of what looks like vomit marks on a canvas, and the "art critic" next to you lectures you on the deep meaning behind such a fantastic artwork.
Not that this book is a literal comparison here, but I found it a labor to read. Worse, the promise of the book was a fantasy "as if" look at what would happen if all the ideas of the axial age had somehow merged, or at least crossed paths. For years I've thought this an excellent concept for a book, and was delighted when I discovered that somebody had written one. This book is a waste of a fantastic concept. Totally undeveloped. The hero simply meets folks like Confucius and Buddha and basically says hello and goodbye. Not to say the book isn't interesting, just too long. By half.

"Magnum Opus"?.......2007-07-27

While reading "Creation" by Gore Vidal, I kept imagining that the main character, Cyrus Spitama, was a representation of Vidal himself. There are several parallels that lead me to this conclusion. First, Cyrus is from an important family, and so is Vidal. Second, Cyrus is closely connected to political events around him; so is Vidal. In any case, in my opinion, I feel Cyrus Spitama is Vidal. I enjoyed this novel, probably because ancient history and philisophy are two of my main interests, and a novel, well-written and interesting on top of it, combining these two interests would surely rank high on my charts, and it does. The protagonist in the story, this Cyrus Spitama, the grandson of the religious leader Zoroaster, gets involved with different political assignments throughout the ancient world, including Greece, Persia, India, and ancient China. While on these assignments, Cyrus gets in touch in various ways with the land's resident philisophers, be it Buddha or Confucius and so forth. Cyrus is on a quest to find the meaning of "Creation", or the meaning of it all. It's unclear whether or not he finds such meaning, but by the end of the novel I feel that Vidal wants to strike a balance between endless philisophical searching and involvement in the world around us; for example, politics. This idea has it's voice in the character of Confucius, who, in the novel, is portrayed both as a philisopher and a political tinkerer. I believe that Vidal has more sympathy for the ideas and behavior of Confucius than, for example, the Buddha, who is seen in the book as a lazy bum who doesn't want to do anything productive with his time. Some of the events of ancient Greek history are seen from a "behind the scenes" viewpoint, and this is important because Vidal is known for criticizing "official" views of history. Admirers of Vidal's work will find the standard wit and cynicism laced throughout the text. Overall, this is an interesting novel and well worth the time to read it.

Simply the Best.......2007-04-15

This is the best historical fiction novel written by one of the best historical novelists ever.

Fantastic tale!.......2007-03-20

Incredibly, it took me three tries to finish the book. The first two times I put it down because it talked at length about Greek politics and it was a bit boring. However, I am glad I got to finish it. The story portrayed in Vidals' book is Cyrus Spitama's and his travels during what Jaspers called the Axial Age. Spitama, the grandson of the prophet Zoroaster, is imagined to travel to India and to China, where he met with the most prominent religious figures of his day, namely:
Makkhali Gosala (p. 204-07). This thinker parted company with Mahavira. He believed that everyone begins as an atom and has to go through 84,000 rebirths. Only then is the monad finally blown out. Everybody must endure the entire cycle from beginning to end. There is no way out. Nobody can help one escape the cycle.
Mahavira (p. 219-23). He achieved "kevala". He was the 24th Tirtankara ("Crossing-maker"), founder of the Jains. He upheld an atomistic view of life. He believed in the need to extinguish karma by refraining from actions (including good ones).
King Bimbisara
Buddha (p. 330-36) and his disciples Sariputta and Ananda. See Buddha's rebuttal of God's existence in pp. 624-25. Spitama says: "The absence of deity, of origin and of terminus, of good in conflict with evil...the absence of purpose, finally, makes the Buddha's truths too strange for me to accept." And again: "It is astonishing to think that millions of people actually think that at a given moment in history, two human beings [Buddha and Mahavira] had evolved to a higher state than that of all the gods that ever were or ever will be. This is titanism. This is madness." (p. 300)
Lieh-Tzu (p. 489-96)
Confucius (p. 549- 57)Spitama cites his views in detail (p. 672-73)
Democritus' views (p.701)

Unseemly Questions.......2007-02-23

If X Created Us, Then Who Created X? And other Unseemly Questions.

About 2,500 years ago, a blind old man remembers his adventurous life. He is half Persian, half Greek, and traveled all over the world known to his people. He's met every major thinker of his time and posed to them the same question--in effect the same question. In India, he sat with Buddha. In China, he fished and chatted with Confucius. He listened to their explanation for how we came to be and asked the next question: Who created that set up? His grandfather Zoroaster taught him about the Wise Lord, but as he comes to realize, not where the Wise Lord came from. Confucius is the only one with a coherent answer: there's no point in inquiring what we can't know, so let's instead focus on the here and now.

At one level, this is a philosophical treatise. But like all great books, it works on more than one level. So this is also a picaresque adventure story, told delightfully by the weary yet ever so witty old man, Cyrus Spitama. From the ghastly enamel makeup on a Persian great queen's face to the exotic foods sold in a Chinese market place, the details are marvelous. Several historical characters come to life, Persian emperor Xerxes among them. By the end, Xerxes no longer cares about Greece or China or India or even his own empire. He just wants to stay in his harem and drink. That's one response to the complexity of existence.

Fortunately, Spitama has a very different response. He explores and learns and then transmits his learning to his young nephew, Democritus--another historical character, the philosopher who originated the view that the world consists of atoms in constant motion. What would the fictional Spitama have thought of atoms? One suspects he would have been most curious. The book, a wonder of engaging narrative, raises tantalizing issues and really makes one think.

Pericles Of Athens And The Birth Of Democracy

Average customer rating:

A Companion to the Peloponnesian War Series & A History of Athens
The First Citizen
Getting to know Pericles
The Churchill of the Ancient World
A worthy book

Pericles Of Athens And The Birth Of Democracy
Donald Kagan
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Greece | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0684863952

Book Description

"Kagan, faithful to his lifelong fascination with Pericles . . . gives us an accessible and invaluable account of his life and deeds".--Allan Bloom, author of "The Closing of the American Mind".

Customer Reviews:

A Companion to the Peloponnesian War Series & A History of Athens.......2006-11-14

Donald Kagan's knowledge of the subject is likely unequaled. Having essentially written the premier history of the war Pericles hoped to avoid, The Peloponnesian War, Kagan was in the unique position to write a similarly authoritative biography of this classic statesman. And that he has.

The book is well-written, thoroughly readable, and tells the story of Pericles better than its predecessors. That said, those who've read Kagan's four volume series on the Peloponnesian War will find that most of the text in this book has already been covered. This is not to say that new insights and clever evaluations are not to be found, for they are, but only that the author is, unfortunately, a victim of his own superb and exhaustive account of Pericles' life in prior works.

Also note: this is an excellent history of the political framework of early Athens. If you require an introduction to Athens' early democratic structure, including a wonderful description of the Assembly (a fusion of legislative and judicial branches into an open forum), this is the book.

Those who are new to the author and/or the subject will not encounter an issue with the text and, indeed, could not ask for a better biography.

The First Citizen.......2006-07-19

Kagan's Pericles of Athens and the Birth of Democracy is an extremely well-written book on a remarkable statesman who lived nearly twenty-five hundred years ago. The historian Thucydides called him Athens's `first citizen'. During his thirty years of near dominance as that city-state's leader, Athens enjoyed great wealth, a democratic form of government, and gloried in the arts and building projects that reflected that city's heightened status. Kagan's defense of Pericles (though not without criticisms) and the form of government he helped implement are admirably and ably argued.

Kagan's sources are fairly limited, which is to be expected. He relies mostly on the famed account of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, the later writings of Plutarch, and the works of some of the famed literary figures of the day. Perhaps the greatest surviving symbol of Pericles's influence in Athens is the Parthenon. Democracy in Athens began under Cleisthenes, as Kagan mentions, but Pericles advanced this system by opening political participation and voting to more of that city's citizens. He also promoted a paying system for public service. It is tempting to try to compare our political system with the system in Athens (though quite different) and say that ours is more inclusive, which though true technically doesn't mean that the political system in Athens is any less deserving of a certain amount of admiration.

Athens was also an empire, though Pericles could persuasively argue its merits despite the seeming contradictions. Athens's wealth and prestige did not come without costs. Sparta and various other Greek people were suspicious and resentful of the growing influence of Athens. The Spartans, as Kagan claimed later in the book as the Peloponnesian War began, would claim the mantle of liberators of the Greeks. Pericles's policies were seemingly always guided by an intelligent, rational way of thinking. He tried to pursue the moderate course between the extremes, as Kagan states. This seems to become most evident in the opening scenes in the war against Sparta.

I find that moderation to be very admirable, even if his policies could be wrong on occasion, as the Peloponnesian War would prove. He was perhaps too stubborn in adhering to certain strategies, but he did what he believed was right for Athens. His ability to influence his fellow citizens was indeed quite remarkable. But even Pericles had enemies and for a while even he was cast out of office when things weren't going well for Athens in the early stages of the conflict. Pericles died in 429 BC, only two and a half years into the war that would last twenty-seven years. His military strategy had not worked, though very clearly thought out and believed by its architect. But one thing was sure, after his death, Athens would sorely lack that high-minded and able leadership that he represented so well.

This is the second book by Kagan I've read and he doesn't disappoint. He makes a strong case for Pericles and Athenian Democracy, though he can be critical, especially of Pericles's strategy for fighting and winning the war with Sparta. Then again, what if Pericles had lived longer? Makes for a great what if, but then again maybe it wouldn't have changed the ultimate outcome of the war. A fascinating period, but a tragic one.

Getting to know Pericles.......2005-05-11

Donald Kagan of Yale university is perhaps the foremost authority on Periclean Athens in the world today. As such, it is only natural that he should write a treatise on the life of the great man known as Pericles.

All of the major facets of Pericles' life are brought together in this edition, from his rise to prominence to his scandalous affair with Aspasia to his strategy of fighting the Peloponnesian war against Sparta and her allies. The latter topic, of course, will gather the most interest to modern readers.

While I have read Thucydides, I felt that Kagan did a wonderful job of elaborating on a lot of details of the Peloponnesian war that were a bit unclear in primary sources. The problem with historical primary sources is that they many times take as a given the reader knows all the background information behind specific events. Kagan makes no assumptions and walks the reader through the various political and social aspects that underlie sundry events of 5th century Greece.

One of the more surprising elements of this book is that Kagan is not reticent in his criticisms of many Periclean policies and war strategies. While moderation is typically seen as a positive thing (just ask Aristotle!), Kagan points out how Pericles could over-rely on human reason and be moderate to a fault. In short, this book is NOT an encomium on the Greek leader. Rather, it is an open an honest examination of his life & times. Kagan disinters both the best and the worst in Pericles' character and foresight.

This book is highly recommended to all persons who are interested in Greek history. For those who wish to become more acquainted with Athens in the turmoil of war, this book is a can't miss.

The Churchill of the Ancient World.......2004-07-21

When I was just a youngster I remembered reading about the "Golden Age of Pericles". What was this "golden age"? Who was Pericles? What impact did he have on the world today?

To begin with, the "golden age" marked the beginnings of the Athenian Empire. Athens became the Mecca for the world, attracting the greatest minds. It became an important trade center. With this, Athens became one of the greatest cities in the mid-Fifth Century BC world. At the center was Pericles.

Pericles rose to prominence under less than favorable circumstances. He came from an old family that was involved in a sacrilege to the gods about one hundred years earlier. His family was cursed and expelled from Athens. When Pericles came of age he neglected politics, as the Athenian aristocracy was firmly entrenched. When his opportunity finally came Pericles was able to win over the citizens to his way of thinking by the power of his oratory.

Pericles didn?t invent democracy but under his leadership democracy flourished. He firmly believed that when the opportunity for power belonged to all the citizens, instead of only a few, that the best people would rise to leadership roles. This was democracy?s strength. The critics?and there were many?feared mob rule. For that reason it would be a long time before democracy rose to prominence in the world again. Even our own founding fathers feared mob rule, but representative democracy would prevent that while preserving democracy?s strength.

The legacy of Pericles was that he was a true statesman. He understood the ramifications of the peace with Sparta and what would happen to Athens if she caved into the demands of Sparta. The result was a great Peloponnesian war that would eventually cost Athens her empire. It was faulty strategy, wrong assumptions, and a lack of strong leadership after Pericles died that did Athens in. Donald Kagan mentions the connection with Winston Churchill, who found his country facing a great danger from Germany because its prime minister backed down. Like Pericles, he knew Great Britain would have to stand and fight. One can only wonder what the world would be like if Pericles? Athens had won as Churchill?s Britain had?

A worthy book.......2003-12-10

This is a good biography of a great man. Kagan not only distills a great deal of information into a very accessable book, he also manages to impart understanding and insight about Pericles and his Athens. This book is valuable to anyone interested in classical Greece. With particular emphasis - anyone contemplating an attack on "The Peloponnesian War" by Thucydides would do well to get "Pericles" as a companion. Even if you already have Thucydides under your belt, you will probably gain fresh insight into that famously difficult work through Kagan's lucid exposition.

A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare Made Easy)

Average customer rating:

Kid Friendly Shakespeare
Hermia is the best character
Great Translation that Makes Shakespeare More Accessable
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Fun and Frivolous

A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare Made Easy)
William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0812035844

Book Description

Here are the books that help teach Shakespeare plays without the teacher constantly needing to explain and define Elizabethan terms, slang, and other ways of expression that are different from our own. Each play is presented with Shakespeare's original lines on each left-hand page, and a modern, easy-to-understand "translation" on the facing right-hand page. All dramas are complete, with every original Shakespearian line, and a full-length modern rendition of the text.

Customer Reviews:

Kid Friendly Shakespeare.......2007-04-10

I am currently reading this version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream with my fifth grade class. They are able to understand the story as we (as a class) tackle the more difficult Shakespearian verse. They appreciate the writing of Shakespeare more because his style is not interfering with their understanding of the story. It has been a great experience for all!!!

Hermia is the best character.......2006-09-22

In my school, we read he book a midsummernight's dream and now we are doing the play at school. We read the original not this, but I still love it. My favorite character is Hermia because she is pretty and spunky and I am going to play her! This play rockz! Go Sherwood Middle School.

Great Translation that Makes Shakespeare More Accessable.......2003-12-27

I purchased many titles in the "Shakespeare Made Easy" series. It has a modern English translation side by side with the original text. It helped tremendously when it came to school assignments.

A Midsummer Night's Dream.......2003-04-14

A Midsummer Night's Dream is certainly one of the most popular Shakespearean plays. Few other dramas display such a combination of theatrical appeal: comedy and dance, music and fairies, rustics and the moonlit woods. This unit examines the enchanting play and its theme of love and love's folly. A Midsummer Night's Dream contains some wonderfully lyrical expressions of lighter Shakespearean themes, most notably those of love, dreams, and the stuff of both, the creative imagination itself.
I believe that Shakespeare wrote A Midsummer Night's Dream as a light entertainment to accompany a marriage celebration.

Fun and Frivolous.......2003-04-03

On the first read, I thought this was really silly stuff, but on the second read I thought it had some of Shakespheare's best romantic poetry in it.

This story contains yet another authoritarian father of Shakespheare's creation, Egeus, telling his daughter Hermia who she will marry (Demetrius) and not marry (Lysander). There is also her sister Helena who is in love with Demetrius, but Demetrius does not love her. Enter the fairies, mainly Oberon and his servant Puck who muck things up further by enchanting Lysander and Demetrius into falling in love with Helena instead of their previous darling girl Hermia. Tension ensues as Helena thinks that she is being mocked and Hermia thinks that Helena has stolen away her men. Puck and the fairies eventually right things by enchanting Demetrius to match up with Hermia and Lysander with Helena.

There is a subplot with working class rustics who try to put on a play of Pyramus and Thisbe, two lovers that die tragically. (Imagine construction workers putting on a romantic play, for modern day comparison.) The leader Snug and his company of Bottom, Quince, Flute, Snout, and Starveling prepare a play at night in the woods and the mischievous fairy Puck attaches a donkey's posterior to Bottom's head and makes the queen fairy Titania fall in love with him and his fine feature. Eventually, Puck reverses this predicament before the night is over.

Bottom and company put on the play in the last act for the nobles of city who are Theseus, Duke of Athens, and his company of the soon to be married nobles Demetrius and Hermia and Lysander and Helena, among others. The play is so bad it's comical. The usual tragic romantic deaths in plays like Romeo and Juliet are parodied in this act. In fact, this play seems to be what Romeo and Juliet would have been if it were turned into a comedy.

As with most Shakespheare's plays this is better seen than read. The love rectangle is confusing at first given the similar names of Helena and Hermia and the switching match-ups. Not much mentally to chew on here, other than the observation that one can often love someone, but they don't love you back and it's frustrating.

Average customer rating:

GREEK PREJUDICE REIGNS

A Timeless Classic By One Of The Best Biographers In History

Plutarch on Athens

Good translation weak commentary

Good translation, good read.

The Rise and Fall of Athens: Nine Greek Lives
Plutarch , and Ian Scott-Kilvert
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140441026

Customer Reviews:

GREEK PREJUDICE REIGNS.......2006-03-06

I like Plutarch because the guy really knows how to call a spade a spade. He had the guts to admit when the record was less than straight, provided alternative views, sources and dialogues, and let the reader decide when the facts and interpretations got fuzzy. He was no ideologue. In that sense a lot of writers in our present century could learn from him.

There are many versions of Plutarch's "Lives" and the traditional versions (maybe the original?) render one Roman life in comparison with one Greek life evincing similar traits or historical characteristics. In this Penguin Series the tendency has been to divide the Greek and Roman lives into seperate works.

I loved his Roman lives unequivocally and I love this one as well, but Plutarch makes a better writer the more he moves from myth to factual lives. In this sense his early lives like Thesseus and Solon are less interesting than those of Nicias, Alcabiades, Lysander and Themistocoles. Plutarch is best when he is working with solid sources, not mythology.

But, to his credit, his early mythical lives reflects a very sceptical note, one as befits the subject matter. Later when he is citing Xenophon, and Plato, his lives are exciting in the extreme (I shall always remember the utter destruction of Nicias and his expeditionary force to Syracuse, by Gyllipus and his Syracusian allies). The corruption of Lysander by money, and the general message perhaps in this tome -- the danger of overextended wars in far flung lands not supported or understood by the people.

All in all this book puts the "C" in Classic.

A Timeless Classic By One Of The Best Biographers In History.......2005-08-10

Plutarch in his "Lives Of The Noble Grecians And Romans" written around 100 C.E., sheds new light on Greek and Roman history from their Bronze Age beginnings, shrouded in myth, down through Alexander and late Republican Rome. Plutarch is the lens that we use today to view the Greco-Roman past; his work has shaped our perceptions of that world for 2,000 years. Plutarch writes of the rise of Roman Empire while Gibbon uses his scholarship to advance the story to write about its decline. He was a proud Greek that was equally effected by Roman culture, a Delphic priest, a leading Platonist, a moralist, educator and philosopher with a deep commitment as a first rate writer. Being a Roman citizen, Plutarch was afforded the opportunity to become an intimate friend to prominent Roman citizens and a member of the literary elite in the court of Emperor Trajan.

Plutarch's influence and enormous popularity during and after the Renaissance is legendary among classicist. Plutarch's "Lives", served as the sourcebook for Shakespeare's Roman Plays "Julius Caesar", "Antony and Cleopatra" and "Coriolanus". By the way Plutarch is even the only contemporary source of all the biographical information on Cleopatra, whom he writes about in his biographies of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Octavian. Thomas Jefferson wrote to his nephew that there were three books every gentleman had to have familiarity with; Plutarch's "Lives", Livy's "History of Rome" and Virgil's Aeneid. In fact all the founding fathers of note had read Plutarch and learned much from his fifty biographies of noble men of Greece and Rome. When Hamilton, Jay and Madison write "The Federalist Papers" they use many examples of good and bad leadership traits that they read in Plutarch's work. His biographies are a great study in human character and what motivates leaders to decide and act the way they do, this masterpiece has proven to be still prescient today.

If you are truly interested in a classical education, put this book on the top of your list! I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in political philosophy, and history.

Plutarch on Athens.......2004-10-11

While categorized as more of a biographer than a historian, Plutarch is nevertheless one of the most often-cited scholars of antiquity. In Plutarch we gaze at history through the lens of the great avatars of history. This is actually preferable in many ways to Plutarch's original organization. As Plutarch's method was to teach on ethics via the lives of great men, he would write parallel lives of famous Greeks & Romans. Many times the similarities would be stretched and occasionally merely artifical.

Penguin Classics has broken up Plutarch's LIVES into several different books, each focused on a particular historical genre. The current one places its emphasis on Athens. The book covers 7 Athenians (Solon, Themistocles, Aristides, Cimon, Pericles, Nicias, Alcibiades), 1 mythological figure (Theseus) and 1 Spartan (Lysander).

The inclusion of Lysander is due to the fact that Lysander was the primary instrument by which the Spartans conquered the Athenians in 404BCE. Athens would never again be a major player on the world stage, so the section on Lysander's life is one of transitions.

All of the essays in this book are the standard by which contemporary historians write on the world of ancient Greece. That makes this book a must for persons who are even remotely interested in classical history. Even if you were to only read one book on the Greeks, this one might be the one to grab. The book is THAT influential.

Good translation weak commentary.......2002-09-21

Penguin Classics have gone up in price I see with this new copy -- ah, well, such is publishing it seems. Plutarch was writing in the Roman world so his view of the lives of nine important Athenians is a bit different than their comtempories. The lives examined inclue Theseus (perhaps more legend than history), Solon (also a tad more legend than history), Themistocles, Aristides, Cimon, Pericles, Nicias, Alcibiades, and Lysander. There are two descent maps -- one of the Aegean and one of mainland Greece. The book could really use an index and better footnotes or commentary frankly to be of great use to anyone not just reading it for a introductory level course dealing with Athens or the Archaic and Classical Greek world.

Good translation, good read........1998-02-25

I'm reading this translation for a class on 5th century BC Greece. I find Plutarch a fun writer with his emphasis on the moral behavior of his subjects, even when some of them (such as Themistocles) are not moral at all. This is also a very good translation, as Penguin is known for.

Sixty-Minute Shakespeare : A Midsummer Night's Dream

Average customer rating:

A disappointment
A letter from a customer in Baku, Azerbaijan

Sixty-Minute Shakespeare : A Midsummer Night's Dream
Cass Foster
Manufacturer: 5 Star Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1877749370

Book Description

The works of William Shakespeare are timelessand they are time-consuming. Too valuable to be passed over by todays younger generation, Shakespeares plays are, nonetheless, all too often avoided by students and teachers alike. Author Cass Foster, who has been involved in all aspects of theatre for over 35 years, has provided a solution. The Sixty-Minute Shakespeare series is an ideal alternative for those who lack the time to tackle the unabridged versions of the worlds most widely read playwright. Foster has condensed the Bards language, but has left the integrity of Shakespeares writings intact so that students can experience the thrill of his stories as well as the beauty of his prose. In addition, the author has provided footnotes explaining some of the more arcane words and phrases so that the reader can better understand and, therefore, enjoy the plays. This new series contains Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, A Midsummer Nights Dream, and Hamlet. Foster, is quick to point out that The Sixty-Minute Shakespeare series is intended to be merely a stepping stone in the study of Shakespeare, not a substitute for the original works. He urges readers, Go beyond the Sixty-Minute versions, using the appreciation and self-confidence you gained to go further. The more you read, the more you gain. An ideal companion piece, Shakespeare: To Teach or Not to Teach was co-authored by Foster and Lynn G. Johnson. This manual helps teachers prepare and present the teachings of Shakespeare from as early as second grade all the way through high school. Foster is the director of a theatre program in a small college in central Arizona and currently the fight choreographer for the Grand Canyon Shakespeare Festival. He has directed shows and staged fights at theatres and universities throughout the country.

Customer Reviews:

A disappointment.......2000-12-07

I saw the other reviews of this book,and I have to wonder if the reviewers really read this abridged version of the play. This is one of our family's favorite plays, and I bought this book to allow us to do a living room performance of it in one evening. I was disappointed. First, the copy has many errors in it that make performing it confusing. For instance, in Act I, Scene 1, when Egeus brings Hermia and Demetrius and Lysander before Theseus, there is a stage direction that says "Demetrius exit and Helena follow." although Helena has not appeared (in this or any other version of the play) until later in the scene. Second, every person who has to make cuts in this play does it differently, but Cass Foster has cut some parts that I really miss, especially Bottom's playing the "tyrant" in Act I, Scene 2, and the rest of Thisby's death speech in Act V. Those scenes seem wooden and hurried without those lines. If I had known what this book was like, I would have ordered a different book with the full text and cut out lines myself. It would be easier than going through this text and correcting typos and adding lines that I feel need to be there.

A letter from a customer in Baku, Azerbaijan.......1999-03-07

March 5, 1999

Dear friends at Five Star Pub.,

We have a small school on the other side of the planet from you in a country called Azerbaijan. It's kind of a home school coop. Two years ago we performed your version of Romeo and Juliet and last year, A Midsummer Night's Dream. We really enjoy your versions because of the suggestions for staging (we're all rookies) and your notes of explanation on difficult phrases. I have to admit that the kids liked the Romeo and Juliet notes the best because there were more of them but we also like the new layout of Midsummer. It's easier to use.

Thanks for your help,

Book Description

STREETWISE(r) ATHENS
Revised yearly, STREETWISE(r) is the best-selling map of ATHENS, with coverage from the First Cemetery of Athens to Pedionareos Areos Park. Localities covered are Athens Stadium, the Agora, and the Acropolis. Points of interest such as museums, hotels, parks, and popular sites are highlighted and fully indexed. Pireaus is clearly indicated on a map inset. Laminated for durability, accordion folded to fit in your pocket or purse, STREETWISE(r) gives you ATHENS in a clear, concise, and convenient format.

Customer Reviews:

Very Useful.......2007-10-15

The handy litte map was exactly what we needed in the urban center of Athens. It was clear to read, and fit right in my pocket as we walked around. With the subway information it made it so simple to get started underway to any city goal.

Great maps!.......2007-04-06

I've used the Streetwise Paris map several times and am looking forward to using the Athens one on my upcoming trip to Greece. The Paris map is complete, thorough, useful, etc. It folds into a small size and is waterproof for rainy days. These are great maps - try them! The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is that the Paris map is set up somewhat confusingly - with the middle on one side and the areas both North and South of that on the other side. But it was fine once I remembered that odd placement.

Great Map.......2006-08-08

This handy little map has all the details needed to enjoy the tourist attractions of Athens, while being sturdy and easily transported in your daypack, or even a deep pocket. GREAT to travel with!

Useful, but needs a Metro Update.......2005-05-24

This map is typical of the "Streetwise" series: Easily folded , LAMINATED (which makes it easy to write on, and keeps the map from falling apart when wet), and with handy stuff like metro stops, hotels. All landmarks the tourist needs to navigate around the town. The Athens one concentrates, naturally on the area around the Parthenon; the rest of Athens is on the other side. However, a new edition is certainly warranted as the metro now extends out to the airport, and the important hub of Syntagma Square isn't listed, and some Lat/Long lines would be great for us GPS-geeks.
Overall worth taking with you.

Smaller than expected.......2003-08-01

When you review the specifications of this map you see 8 papes what you are not told is when you unfold the entire map it only measures 8 1/2 by 32 inches.
it only covers " downtown Athens " I was looking for a resturant in the outskirts of Athens hopeing I could find it in this map.

I purchased a map in Athens a few years ago which is more complete.

I wouldn't recommend this map to anyone.

I also purchased a Michelin road map to Greece and it was just as I expected very detailed map

Book Description

Athens is still fresh and invigorated after its Olympic face-lift: amble between crumbling temples, enjoy a frappe in a characterful Monastiraki cafe, then trawl the shops for traditional sandals and Byzantine rings. Dine at Piraeus for waterfront views or at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the luminous Acropolis. Raise a toast to Dionysus in a friendly barakia or dance until dawn. Your odyssey begins here.

INSIDER INFORMATION - our expert author reveals local secrets and hidden gems.
SLEEP SOUNDLY - hand-picked hotels; choose from chic designer rooms, grand palaces and charming family-run pensions.
DINE ON MEZEDES - our favorite souvlaki joints, old-style taverns and the latest hot spots.
LIVE IT UP - the city's best live music and performance venues, clubs and neighborhood bars.
NAVIGATE THE CITY with our clear, comprehensive fold-out maps, itineraries, and walking tours.

Customer Reviews:

Book was helpful, but maps are so-so.......2007-09-28

This small guide was very helpful to a recent short trip to Athens. The recommendations of where to visit and day-by-day tours were good. It was nice that the guide was small and fit in my back pocket. However, the maps leave something to be desired. You might want to purchase additional Athens maps to go along with the book, or ask your hotel for some.

love lonely planet.......2007-08-27

Athens is a great city. I had been there several times, waiting to see what has changd from 2000 year.

very useful guide to athens.......2007-05-14

My wife and i were in athens for 3 days and this little book was always in my pocket. it was very useful for us the entire trip. although some of the restaurant suggestions i'd question that's to be expected. the rest of the information was excellent. i found myself referring to the maps and area descriptions constantly. well worth the investment.

Nice overview of Athens' attractions.......2006-08-20

The book has good maps in addition to narrative. We used the "Eating" section and "Directory" most heavily, since we are not shoppers and had arranged a hotel through alternative means. We also used the Eyewitness "Top 10" guide and "Streetwise Athens" map, which provide additional perspectives.

It's out of date........2006-07-02

I guess I should have known that a 2004 guide to Athens is out of date in 2006. It hasn't been updated to reflect the fact that the metro now connects to the airport, and its Acropolis ticket info. is misleading--the Acropolis ticket is good for one visit only, not for four days. The free guide to Athens published by the Ministry of Tourism ("Wonderful Greece") has much better walking tours.

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