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

Book Description

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces: The Western Tradition, Volume 2

Average customer rating:

'salright
Worldly, well made and well written
Worldly, well made and well written
Avoid the Introductions

The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces: The Western Tradition, Volume 2

Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 039397300X

Book Description

Offering a splendid collection of literary masterpieces in the best available translations, The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces is a literal library of Western literature in two portable volumes. Most major works, from Homer's Odyssey to Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, are offered complete or in substantial, readable excerpts. New authors and works abound, including pieces by Plautus, Lucian, Ariosto, de Vega, Shakespeare, Joyce, O'Connor, Munro, and Silko, and new sections of Medieval lyrics and tales, Romantic poetry in translation, and Dada-Surrealist poetry. Informative period introductions and author headnotes guide readers through the cultural and historical contexts surrounding the literature.

Customer Reviews:

'salright.......2005-10-03

exactly what to be expected from an anthology. good introductions to the pieces, authors, etc. 'salright.

Worldly, well made and well written.......2005-09-05

Overall, this book provides an excellent survey of world literature from the Age of Reason to Post-Modernism.

The translations were very well done for all languages. I especially enjoyed the German works written by Goethe, Freud, Rilke, and Kafka. The footnotes served as a great tool in explaining that certain words chosen may not have been the exact equivalent, and definitions and examples are sometimes included to give the reader a better understanding of the messages conveyed by authors.

Unfortunately, I see some overlap in this book and in Norton's American Literature II and British Literature II. Also, the pronunciation guides in the beginning some stories such as Achebe's Things Fall Apart are quite limited.

The durability of the pages and covers of Norton's books have greatly improved. The type, font, kerning and spacing is fairly easy to read without too much eye strain, especially since the character size is so small.

Worldly, well made and well written.......2005-05-11

Avoid the Introductions.......2000-09-07

As its name describes, this book contains many known works of famous writers from Europe, Asia, and a few from Latin America. I was to read Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert and I found in the introduction that the editors of this book gave away the ending in an attempt to summarize the plot. Thus I read over 200 pages knowing exactly what was the destiny of the main character!!! I do understand that many people do know the story, from beginning to end, but I also know that there are many others like me that have never read Madame Bovary. From now on I will avoid the introductions completely. It was cruel that editors from well known universities commit such atrocities. It clearly shows their lack of common sense and that even in the best universities people don't learn the basics.

The Humanistic Tradition, Book 6: Modernism, Globalism, and the Information Age

Average customer rating:

I've never read this either....
I don't know, I never recieved my order

The Humanistic Tradition, Book 6: Modernism, Globalism, and the Information Age
Gloria K. Fiero
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0072910232

Book Description

"The Humanistic Tradition is quite simply the finest book of its type. Fiero manages to integrate the political, cultural, and social history of the world into one coherent and fascinating whole. It is a masterpiece of scholarship . . . balanced, interesting, easy to read, and consummately beautiful. Our professors praise its accuracy and scope and our students unanimously say it is their favorite textbook." — Sonia Sorrell, Pepperdine University

The Humanistic Tradition features a flexible, topical approach that helps students understand humankind's creative legacy as a continuum rather than as a series of isolated events. This widely acclaimed interdisciplinary survey offers a global perspective, countless illustrations, and more than 150 literary sources. Available in multiple formats, The Humanistic Tradition explores the political, economic, and social contexts of human culture, providing a global and multicultural perspective which helps students better understand the relationship between the West and other world cultures.

Customer Reviews:

I've never read this either...........2006-04-19

However giving the book a one star review based on the fact that you had a bad experience with Amazon is unacceptable. Your poor rating hurts the author much more then it hurts Amazon. Many a casual browser will not even browse further past a one star rating. And despite your experience many a writer makes a great deal of money from sales on this site.

I don't know, I never recieved my order.......2006-02-24

I would have no idea how to rate this product since I never recieved it. I do know however, that I will never be ordering from Amazon.com again. It was the poorest internet experience I have ever had, and I had heard such amazing things about this company. Live and learn I suppose.

Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces: The Western Tradition, Vol. 1: Literature of Western Culture Through the Renaissance

Average customer rating:

Norton's Anthology of World Masterpieces, a review
Not the best, but not THAT bad...
Strange Choices
World Masterpiece

Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces: The Western Tradition, Vol. 1: Literature of Western Culture Through the Renaissance

Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0393972895

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Norton's Anthology of World Masterpieces, a review.......2005-09-12

This seventh edition has left out the poetry of John Donne, the great metaphysical poet. Big mistake. I was disappointed in the translation of Gilgamesh, considering Stephen Mitchell's version to be superior. I was also disappointed in the Bible excerpts - particularly Genesis, where there is no indication that the redactor of the selections picked and chose between J, E and P texts, with no indication of the lacunae, making it seem as if there were only one version, for instance, of the Creation or the Flood, while any biblical scholar knows that there are at least two. My overall impression, however, is that this offers a fair introduction to Western world literature to the mid-seventeenth century.

Not the best, but not THAT bad..........2005-04-26

A couple of reviewers have complained about the quality of this book, and there are a few problems with it, but overall, it is a fairly good book. Most of the translations are solid (except for the translation of Lysistrata, which should be avoided like the plague), and there is a fairly good selection of works. The editors have also tried to help anyone reading the works by providing extensive footnotes for anything that is unclear (which are a bit cluttered at times, but are mostly good). The only complaints I have concern the translation of Lysistra, which I already discussed, and the style and size of the book. The pages are extremely thin and are thus hard to turn, making it hard to read any work from page to page continuously; this anthology is also the size of a Bible (literally!), so don't expect it to be portable. Otherwise, for a book I had to have for a college class, it's pretty good.

Strange Choices.......2003-11-24

My own education was in the Great Books and I am familiar with both the literature and how to teach it. I used this book for the first time in the current semester because it is virtually standard where I teach.
I was puzzled by the many obscure selections in this anthology such as Thorstein the Staff-Struck and Marguerite de Navarre. I was frustrated by the selection of relatively unreadable translations like the Jowett "Socrates' Apology" and the apparently untranslated "Morte Darthur." This book is intended for contemporary college students who have had little experience reading classical experience and these choices were simply inappropriate to them.
Shakespeare is represented only by "Othello." Why not also one of the comedies or histories? Why not any other example of Elizabethan drama?
The editors left out important works such as More's "Utopia," anything by Aquinas, any of Aristotle except for a brief excerpt from "The Poetics," and anything by Martin Luther. The selections from the New Testament were also deficient.
They chose, correctly I believe, to include some Jewish and Muslim literature but did not choose well. Aside from the Old Testament the Jewish literature was limited to a few Medieval verses and not the best of them. Aside from a few selections from the Koran, they saw fit to include a tiny selection of verse and a little of "The Thousand and One Nights." The lack of possible choices that either affected or were affected by Western literature (Philo, Maimonides, Al-Gazzali, Ibn-Khaldoun) are an indication of timidity or ignorance on the part of the editors.
I detect an attempt at the kind of political correctness that wants to include authors aside from "dead, white, European males." That is not an unworthy aim, but they did it badly.
Finally the introductions, which were in almost unreadably small print, were filled with inaccurate information. These were not carefully written.
It's a shame that this anthology dominates the search engines at Amazon and at other online services. The reason would seem to be a matter of economics rather than quality. I'm already searching for a better anthology to use next semester.

World Masterpiece.......2000-06-06

Wide collection of works and translations. I really enjoyed the translation of Homer in the Iliad. Norton's Anthology has help transform literature from being boring to being fun.

The Western Tradition: From the Renaissance to the Present

Average customer rating:

Eugen Weber
Insight Into History

The Western Tradition: From the Renaissance to the Present
Eugen Weber
Manufacturer: D.C. Heath
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0669394432

Customer Reviews:

Eugen Weber.......2005-12-21

If you are interested, Eugen Weber has recorded 15 hours of lectures on the Western Tradition on the following site
learner.org in the social studies category. He is fascinating to listen to and I really suggest having a look.

Insight Into History.......2000-04-04

This book is a list of primary sources on the major events of European History from the Renaissance to the present. Weber does a good job of presenting balanced viewpoints (except maybe in the case of evolution, where he's definitely pro) The works are a bit dry, but that's not his fault. Plus, he gives a quick summary of each author before presenting his work. Perfect for AP classes (as practice for DBQs)

The Undutchables: An Observation of the Netherlands, Its Culture And Its Inhabitants

Average customer rating:

Indeed, there's better stuff out there
Funny book for expats living in Holland
Reason for laughter!
Great Book!
Tongue in cheek

The Undutchables: An Observation of the Netherlands, Its Culture And Its Inhabitants
Colin White , and Laurie Boucke
Manufacturer: White-Boucke Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1888580321

Customer Reviews:

Indeed, there's better stuff out there.......2007-10-03

As a dutch expat, this book was given to me by friends as a joke. I read it, and was severely disappointed. As has been stated before, the authors try so hard to be funny and give an accurate description of the Dutch, that they fail on both accounts. I did laugh on occasion, but all in all I found this book pretty pathetic. I don't mind at all looking at my own country with critical eyes, as long as the information is correct. Unfortunately, in this book, it isn't.
The Low Sky (Han van der Horst) is much better at describing the Dutch. So, if you're really interested in Dutch culture, by that book.If you are looking for a book to tell you something about where to go and what to see while in Amsterdam, buy the Lonely Planet.
For those among you who read Dutch books: Retourtjes Nederland by Simon Kuper. This is an interesting book about the changes that have taken place in the Netherlands over the last few years.

Funny book for expats living in Holland.......2007-09-17

I'm very happy with this book. I lived and worked in the Netherlands for 6 months and reading this book after being there is very funny! Everything that I criticized is written in this book but in a very funny way! I recommend this book to everyone that is going to live in the Netherlands for more than one month and to everyone that lived or still lives there. Hilarious!

Reason for laughter!.......2007-09-06

As a dutch woman, being married to an american man, this book came in very handy! For my husband it was a tool that gave him much needed information about the dutch culture and habits that made him think how we could function without losing our minds. To me, it was a reason for lots of hysterical laughter throughout the book. The descriptions and details are amazing and so very true, but the reason they made me laugh is because I never thought of them being typically dutch. If you get a view of yourself through the eyes of an american, it can be quite an eye opener. I highly recommend this book!

Great Book!.......2007-08-17

I read this book when I first met my now husband. I laughed threwout the whole book and was really curious about amny other things..like the toilet situation! Well 2 1/2 years later we are living in the netherlands! I have to say the book does hold true to many things it has said and although it takes some getting used to..dutch people are wonderful. You have to be open minded when you come here or you wont enjoy it. I jumped when I first saw the toliet with a shelf on it flush!LOL I was taken back when I had to pay to go to the bathroom and loved how you were left alone to talk and visit while in a resturant..no waitress shoving a check in your face and asking if you need anything else every 5 mins. Yep I do love it here..I miss my american mayonaise though and different flavored sodas..no rootbeer! Anyway,visit here..it's beautiful,so many things to see and do and wonderful foods to try!

Tongue in cheek.......2007-08-12

This book was a recommended to us by a citizen of the Netherlands as a means of gaining a better understanding of her country. At first, I was confused by the writer's style until I realized it was a very tongue-in-cheek description of the country. I found it most helpful in separating facts from legends of the country and its people. If read in conjunction with a more serious book "Culture Shock" by Hunt Janin & Ria van Eil, it should prepare you as much as you can to visit the a culture not your own.

Sources of Western Tradition: From the Renaissance to the Present

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Sources of Western Tradition: From the Renaissance to the Present
Marvin Perry , Joseph R. Peden , and Theodore H. Von Laue
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0618473874

Against the Modern World: Traditionalism and the Secret Intellectual History of the Twentieth Century

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Not good
Poor scholarship
the reviews reveal the reality
Seminal account of "Traditionalism"
Useful and Engaging

Against the Modern World: Traditionalism and the Secret Intellectual History of the Twentieth Century
Mark Sedgwick
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0195152972

Book Description

The first history of Traditionalism, an important yet surprisingly little-known twentieth-century anti-modern movement. Comprising a number of often secret but sometimes very influential religious groups in the West and in the Islamic world, it affected mainstream and radical politics in Europe and the development of the field of religious studies in the United States. In the nineteenth century, at a time when progressive intellectuals had lost faith in Christianity's ability to deliver religious and spiritual truth, the West discovered non-Western religious writings. From these beginnings grew Traditionalism, emerging from the occultist milieu of late nineteenth-century France, and fed by the widespread loss of faith in progress that followed the First World War. Working first in Paris and then in Cairo, the French writer Rene Guenon rejected modernity as a dark age, and sought to reconstruct the Perennial Philosophy-- the central religious truths behind all the major world religions --largely on the basis of his reading of Hindu religious texts. A number of disenchanted intellectuals responded to Guenon's call with attempts to put theory into practice. Some attempted without success to guide Fascism and Nazism along Traditionalist lines; others later participated in political terror in Italy. Traditionalism finally provided the ideological cement for the alliance of anti-democratic forces in post-Soviet Russia, and at the end of the twentieth century began to enter the debate in the Islamic world about the desirable relationship between Islam and modernity

Customer Reviews:

Not good.......2007-08-22

The book is pathetic. It treats a spiritual movement and reduces it to historical facts.

Poor scholarship.......2007-06-16

If you like tabloid magazines then this book is perfect for you. If you want to know what Traditionalism is then you should read the work of Rene Guenon, A.K. Coomaraswamy, Frithjof Schuon, Martin Lings, and Seyyed Hossein Nasr.

the reviews reveal the reality.......2007-01-24

Skim the reviews and you can see that two kinds of people read this book: Traditionalists, and others.

Most of the Traditionalists could not be more upset. Someone has taken a glance behind the curtain, cleared the smoke and taken down the mirrors. Traditionalism is just another religious tradition, as fascinating and diverse and imperfect as any other. Although Rene Guenon, the central saint of Traditionalism, comes of looking like a good, sincere and intelligent man, Sedgwick presents him not as a prophet, but as someone other people (not Sedgwick) think of as a prophet. That is not good enough for some people. Schuon seems more suspicious here, and most people who don't follow him would consider that appropriate. He often seems to fit the stereotyope of the modern guru (see Storr's "Feet of Clay"). Most of the minor figures in Traditionalism are also presented favorably, if not as favorably as Traditionalists would like. That disquieting folks such as Evola are included understandably upsets Traditionalists who reject fascism, but it is a fact that they are inseparable from at least the early history of Traditionalism.

The others, who are not Traditionalists, could not be more enchanted with this fascinating information. Essentially esoteric fundamentalism, Traditionalism shows up everywhere, along with its more laid-back cousin Perennialism. You cannot study religion academically today without encountering works by Traditionalists, often essentially polemics for their religion, labeled as if they were secular studies, and often enough even accepted as such. The examples might surprise you: Eliade, Nasr, Corbin. Nasr, I think, is particularly egregious at times; for instance, the "Islam" volumes in Crossroad's "World Spirituality" series, which he edited, ought to be labeled "Traditionalist Sufism." The announced title is not covered at all; it is at least a distortion, if not a deception.

Sedgwick has written the first outside, neutral account of Traditionalism. And--contrary to some assertions here--this book is neutral. It is written for a non-Traditionalist audience, and the author reminds us not to judge them differently than we would any other religious tradition. He is, I think, as sympathetic as an outsider can be to another religious tradition. Anyway, an academic historian should not present any tradition as the fulfilment of human spirituality.

All in all, a very high quality, reliable and fascinating study. That is to be expected from Sedgwick, a highly respected veteran scholar of Islam.

Let me recommend a few other books to consider along with this one. For entertainment and another fascinating glimpse into the unexpectedly dramatic world of religious studies, see Ted Anton's "Eros, Magic, and the Murder of Professor Culianu." For a more in depth look at the founding of comparative religion, and an account of how a worldviews like Traditionalism came to dominate it (until very recently), see "Religion after Religion." If you want to read a more mainstream history of religious studies, see Sharpe's "Comparative Religion: A History."

If you want to read a sympathetic history of Traditionalism, I recommend Oldmeadow's "Journeys East," also an excellent example of Traditionalist expostulation disguised as neutral scholarship. The classic presentation of Traditionalism, the place you must begin, is Guenon's "The Crisis of the Modern World." For a recent presentation, try Quinn's "The Only Tradition."

Seminal account of "Traditionalism".......2006-11-05

The secretive 20th-century intellectual movement that became known as "Traditionalism" has, until recently, received little attention in scholarly literature. This state of affairs might not only have been caused by the difficulties that researchers encountered in obtaining reliable information on this elusive, international intelligentsia circle. A reason for mainstream scholarship's relative disregard for the numerous published books by René Guénon and Julius Evola may have been also that one can not take seriously their various fantasies about humanity's history and future that often seem closer to Tolkien's novels than to serious research. Indeed, the alternative world view of perennial philosophy presented in these and other authors' writings has far more to do with faith, ideology and religion, than with science. However, in view of the influence that, for instance, Evola exerted on various political groups and thinkers outside the narrow circle of Guénon's followers during the Cold War, the continued lack of attention to "Traditionalism" has been inappropriate within such disciplines as contemporary history, political science, and cultural studies. More recently a self-ascribed Russian "Traditionalist", Alexander Dugin, has, moreover, managed to gain influence on the Russian legislature, executive, mass media and higher education system. As a result of Dugin's multifarious activities, "Traditionalism" has become a major intellectual phenomenon in post-Soviet Russia, especially within the extreme right. Thus, a comprehensive study of "Traditionalism" was sorely needed.
In 2004, Mark Sedgwick did not only deliver the definitive account on "Traditionalism." He has also provided a narrative that stands out for both, the density of its factual material and the quality of its style. I have rarely read an academic book with such ease and pleasure, and, at the same time, learnt so much novel and relevant information unavailable in mainstream Western research. Sedgwick covers more than a century of international history while, at the same time, delving deeply into the recent intellectual life of such different countries as France, Egypt, Iran or Russia. This might be one of the most fascinating books in the history of ideas published during the last years. One gets, moreover, the feeling that Sedgwick, an Assistant Professor at the American University of Cairo, has greatly benefited from the inspiration derived from the fact that he is living in the same city were Guénon spent the last twenty years of his life.

Useful and Engaging.......2006-10-25

One would think, judging from the negative reviews here, that this book was a hatchet job on its subject: the individuals who have promulgated the philosophy (and ideology) of Traditionalism in the 20th and 21st centuries. The book didn't read as that to me. Rather, it struck me as a reasonably detached, thoroughly engaging history of an influential esoteric movement whose participants have previously remained opaque and cipher-like to the world at large.

But more than that, it is a bracing antidote to the lionizing of Guenon and Schuon (and others) by their followers. Do the Traditionalists have perspectives worth considering? Certainly, and they've influenced my own outlook considerably. But Traditionalism also comes with a lot of baggage (ranging from Guenon's "mild paranoia" as Sedgwick puts it, to Schuon's near deification by his cultish inner circle). _Against the Modern World_ includes that baggage as part of the bigger picture and this is of great benefit for the reader.

If you've ever read any of the Traditionalists' works, you owe it to yourself to read this book in order to gain a sense of the context in which those works arose.

(Despite some typos and minor errors in the book, I give it 5 stars in recognition of its significance in the fields of esoteric, spiritual, and religious studies. The book is not perfect, but it is extremely valuable.)

The Humanistic Tradition, Book 2: Medieval Europe And The World Beyond (Humanistic Tradition)

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Poorly Written; Bad Choice

The Humanistic Tradition, Book 2: Medieval Europe And The World Beyond (Humanistic Tradition)
Gloria K. Fiero
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

Consciousness & Thought | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Customs & Traditions | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0072910097

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Customer Reviews:

Poorly Written; Bad Choice.......2004-10-10

When examined properly by a good author, the medieval period is an interesting and exciting phase of human history. This book is a horrid attempt at examining the period.

It is extremely boring and poorly written. The author uses phrases in it that you have to read five times to comprehend. Most of the book is filled with adjectives describing how something sounds or looks. Of course it is a good thing for authors to give the reader a vivid sense of what something looks like in person, or of the true meaning of poems or liturgical writings, etc. But most of her book is filled with descriptive adjectives rather than giving real information.

This book was used for a college introductory course to the Medieval world. I would NOT recommend it. There are so many wonderful books on this time period, that it is a shame to turn students away from further study of this topic (which it has done for every student in my class I have spoken with).

The Humanistic Tradition, Book 1: The First Civilizations and the Classical Legacy (Humanistic Tradition)

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New and Cheaper than the Bookstore
Alexandria, Egypt was the Mind & Soul of Western Tradition

The Humanistic Tradition, Book 1: The First Civilizations and the Classical Legacy (Humanistic Tradition)
Gloria K. Fiero
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0072910070

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

New and Cheaper than the Bookstore.......2007-01-25

I wasn't expecting to recieve a new book but I am glad I did and didn't go to the expensive bookstore across the street

Alexandria, Egypt was the Mind & Soul of Western Tradition.......2007-01-02

"The wisdom of the Egyptians was a proverb with the Greeks, who felt themselves children beside this ancient race." Plato, Timaeus, 22B, (Quoted from Will Durant, the Story of civilization:I)

Early Civilizations:
As summarized by Will Durant, the development of agriculture helped people to settle in villages and create communities, where the early civilizations gradually developed. Ancient people developed their specialized trades, arts, and crafts, establishing an economy based on trade, which led to the first civilizations. Since there were but few written records, as in the case of ancient Egypt, archaeologists have patiently recreated the history of the first civilizations by putting together artifacts and studying ruins which have been discovered over time. A cardinal characteristic of civilizations was that each had a leader, ruler, priests, and civil administrators. It has been discovered also that early civilizations were tinted by a class system of rich and poor people. First great civilizations were built around rivers, which were crucial to their development, and became a catalyst for the growth of agricultural civilization.

The Humanistic Tradition:
This colorful work is a thoughtful, methodical topical approach to the first classical civilizations that helps not only humanity students but all seekers of common global experience understand humanity's creative traditions as a continuum in space and time, rather than isolated events by human races or nations. This compelling acclaimed survey offers a global perspective, through a gifted editor of many vivid illustrations, integrating an amazing ocean of literary sources. It explores the sociopolitical, economic, and artistic contexts of human culture, providing an analytical perspective of the global multicultural quest which humanity pursued. Gloria Fiero's popular work offers the reader an opportunity to be introduced to 'The Humanistic Tradition' clearly demonstrating the close relationship between the culture of the past and sophisticated life and rich culture of the present. The book explores the arts and thought of the West in relation to ideas of other world cultures, from the ancient mid-East to the modern far East.

Ancient World's Light:
The above being said, I would like to caution the reader that the colorful author, and creative editor adopts a rather questionably biased theory, lately in great doubt (Ps. see: Barnel's Black Athena,) that Greek philosophy is the foundation of the Humanistic tradition, at least/ even in the West. Late Medieval Alexandria, Egypt was no doubt, the "Mind of Western Tradition". Eugene Holley Jr. expressed it beautifully, "Historians of philosophy have been wont to begin their story with the Greeks. It may be that we are all mistaken; for among the most ancient fragments left to us by the Egyptians are writings that belong under the rubric of moral philosophy. The Egyptians were the light of the ancient world. They produced many early medical instruments, designed the world's first step pyramid, and laid the empirical groundwork for scientific reasoning. Akhenaton, the rebel pharaoh, is cited as "the Father of Monotheism." Asante stresses throughout the book that these developments came from a confluence of African cultures, and not from other parts of the world. "The practice of the African philosophers along the Nile was a practice of maintaining Maat [the principle of truth, order, and justice] in every aspect of life," he writes. "If we could only learn from them the value of harmony, balance, and righteousness, we would be on our way toward a revival of the spirit of human victory."

Sonia's fine Review:
"The Humanistic Tradition is quite simply the finest book of its type. Fiero manages to integrate the political, cultural, and social history of the world into one coherent and fascinating whole. It is a masterpiece of scholarship... balanced, interesting, easy to read, and consummately beautiful." -- Sonia Sorrell, Pepperdine University

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