Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

Amazon.com

Jared Diamond's Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed is the glass-half-empty follow-up to his Pulitzer Prize-winning Guns, Germs, and Steel. While Guns, Germs, and Steel explained the geographic and environmental reasons why some human populations have flourished, Collapse uses the same factors to examine why ancient societies, including the Anasazi of the American Southwest and the Viking colonies of Greenland, as well as modern ones such as Rwanda, have fallen apart. Not every collapse has an environmental origin, but an eco-meltdown is often the main catalyst, he argues, particularly when combined with society's response to (or disregard for) the coming disaster. Still, right from the outset of Collapse, the author makes clear that this is not a mere environmentalist's diatribe. He begins by setting the book's main question in the small communities of present-day Montana as they face a decline in living standards and a depletion of natural resources. Once-vital mines now leak toxins into the soil, while prion diseases infect some deer and elk and older hydroelectric dams have become decrepit. On all these issues, and particularly with the hot-button topic of logging and wildfires, Diamond writes with equanimity.

Because he's addressing such significant issues within a vast span of time, Diamond can occasionally speak too briefly and assume too much, and at times his shorthand remarks may cause careful readers to raise an eyebrow. But in general, Diamond provides fine and well-reasoned historical examples, making the case that many times, economic and environmental concerns are one and the same. With Collapse, Diamond hopes to jog our collective memory to keep us from falling for false analogies or forgetting prior experiences, and thereby save us from potential devastations to come. While it might seem a stretch to use medieval Greenland and the Maya to convince a skeptic about the seriousness of global warming, it's exactly this type of cross-referencing that makes Collapse so compelling. --Jennifer Buckendorff

Book Description

In his runaway bestseller Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond brilliantly examined the circumstances that allowed Western civilizations to dominate much of the world. Now he probes the other side of the equation: What caused some of the great civilizations of the past to fall into ruin, and what can we learn from their fates? Using a vast historical and geographical perspective ranging from Easter Island and the Maya to Viking Greenland and modern Montana, Diamond traces a fundamental pattern of environmental catastropheÂ—one whose warning signs can be seen in our modern world and that we ignore at our peril. Blending the most recent scientific advances into a narrative that is impossible to put down, Collapse exposes the deepest mysteries of the past even as it offers hope for the future.

Â“DiamondÂ's most influential gift may be his ability to write about geopolitical and environmental systems in ways that donÂ't just educate and provoke, but entertain.Â” Â—The Seattle Times

Â“Extremely persuasive . . . replete with fascinating stories, a treasure trove of historical anecdotes [and] haunting statistics.Â” Â—The Boston Globe

Â“Extraordinary in erudition and originality, compelling in [its] ability to relate the digitized pandemonium of the present to the hushed agrarian sunrises of the far past.Â” Â—The New York Times Book Review

Customer Reviews:

Collapse.......2007-10-17

The author did research into the ancient societies to come up with some lessons for our own future. Very interesting reading.

A Life-Changing Book.......2007-10-13

This extraordinary book will change the way you look at life and man's fate. Unlike Al Gore, Diamond deliberately under-argues his case, which makes it all the more compelling. And unlike Gore, he does not open himself to easy and cheap criticism by focusing on just one factor like climactic warming. He clearly believes in global warming from man-made effects. But what he demonstrates is the full range of our environmental quandary.

Putting aside global warming, how do we deal with the inherent limits on absolutely vital commodities -- sunlight, fossil fuels, fresh water,building materials, clean air, clean water, good land, the productive value of agricultural land? Then he shows the pressure of and irreversible momentum of population growth and the ambition of third world peoples to achieve the standard of living of first world peoples. Then he shows how even the first world cannot continue to sustain that standard.

Combined with this are the examples of past civlizations that failed by not solving their environmental problems. Most chilling is how those societies could remain in denial and do nothing until too late.

Diamond does include examples of successful societies that managed their environmental challenges. And he professes to be an optimist. But I find myself increasingly pessimistic about man's fate after reading this book. The Earth is a jealous mistress, and we cannot afford to take her for granted and to ignore the fragility of the environment and resources on which we depend.

The book is also extraordinary for its exploration of political and cultural issues. One of the most interesting chapters is his comparison of the Dominican Republic and Haiti -- two very different societies on two halves of the same island. He argues quite convincingly that the very different fates of the two societies are attributable to political, historical, and cultural developments. Though there are some differences between each half of the island, each is blessed with the same essential environment. Hence this is a great test case for proving or disproving environmental determinism -- and Diamond comes out against determinism.

Similarly compelling is the Rwanda chapter, which demonstrates that while the small differences and petty resentments between races can be the spark for genocidal conflict, race really doesn't explain the conflict. What explains the conflict is political manipulation of race and the great pressure asserted by declining wealth and resource limitations.

Diamond predicts that wars may well become more common in the new century given the competition for resources. This is a depressing observation for those who hoped that the lessons of the Twentieth Century would make wars far less common.

This is a terrific book and a must-read.

Brilliant. Engaging. Informative.........2007-10-01

Amazing book. He manages to hold my interest while providing a wealth of facts.

Mostly on the mark.......2007-09-28

Diamond hits pretty much on the mark all the way across the board. Weakness: for the most part ignores or minimizes the effect of marketing/advertising/propaganda on human consumption patterns. Strengths: one of the few books on this broad subject that actually deals with over-population; indeed, had he concentrated more on this one most important issue, I would have given "Collapse" 5 stars.

I would strongly recommend this book for anyone concerned with the future of the human race.

Collapse review.......2007-09-24

Another excellent book. I realized when I bought this book that I own and have enjoyed all of Jared Diamond's books. His topics and hypostheses are fascinating and compelling.

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

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Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

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 Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible

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THE BEST 12X16 ATLAS OF HISTORICAL MAPS FOR BIBLE STUDY - not a book of plays
The Lands of the Bible Maps

The Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible
George Ernest Wright
Manufacturer: Westminster John Knox Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0664205356

Customer Reviews:

THE BEST 12X16 ATLAS OF HISTORICAL MAPS FOR BIBLE STUDY - not a book of plays.......2006-03-06

George Ernest Wright was an Associate Professor of Old Testament, McCormick Theological Seminary, and Floyd Vivian Filson was a Professor of New Testament Literature and History at McCormick Theological Seminary. The introductory article is by William Foxwell Albright, Professor of Semitic Languages, Johns Hopkins University.

The FIRST PRINTING of this book was IN 1945 BY THE WESTMINISTER PRESS using the then brand new techniques of map drawing developed in 1944 by RR Donnelley & Co. This book was THE FIRST to make authenic maps of the holy lands which translated hand drawn maps and photographs into Donnelley's new method which is used today. The indexes, which fill eight entire pages, contain the most complete tabulation of Bibical sites ever gathered into a single atlas. Any place mentioned in the Bible can be located readily, and for quick reference the index of subjects will guide the reader at once to the topic in which he is interested.

This book has been reproduced in a smaller book and is still in print today, but is basically the same. There are articles which accompany these maps which remain up-to-the-minute, authentic, and based upon thorough investigation. This book remains the most accurate in existence. Yet for all their scholarship the articles are eminently readable and easy to understand.

I like this original older version better because the maps are much bigger, but it doesn't fit into the bookcase as easily.

The Lands of the Bible Maps.......2004-04-24

This volume of historical maps that coinside with the events of the bible is a marvelous work. Large maps with very interesting and informative text. This 1954 book is a masterpiece. And if you just buy it to frame one of these wonderful maps you have made a find. Love the book and love the journey through ancient times.

Red Scarf Girl (rpkg): A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution

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Red Scarf Girl
Red Scarf Girl
Used as part of our curriculum
Absolutely captivating and brilliant!
Stinks

Red Scarf Girl (rpkg): A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution
Ji-li Jiang
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064462080

Book Description

In 1966 Ji–li Jiang turned twelve. An outstanding student and leader, she had everything: brains, the admiration of her peers, and a bright future in China's Communist Party. But that year China's leader, Mao Ze–dong, launched the Cultural Revolution, and everything changed. Over the next few years Ji–li and her family were humiliated and scorned by former friends, neighbors, and co–workers. They lived in constant terror of arrest. Finally, with the detention of her father, Ji–li faced the most difficult choice of her life.

Told with simplicity and grace, this is the true story of one family's courage and determination during one of the most terrifying eras of the twentieth century.

Ages 11+

Customer Reviews:

Red Scarf Girl.......2007-09-10

This is a great book. It arrived in a timely manner and my daughter and I have enjoyed it very much.

Red Scarf Girl.......2007-03-17

Ji Li Jiang is only a teenage girl, yet she is forced to cope with the terrible happenings that occur during the Cultural Revolution. Ji Li Jiang's family just wanted to be loyal followers of Chairman Mao, but due to Ji Li's grandfather and his status as a former landlord, the Jiangs are exposed to many unfair discourtesies.
Ji Li grows confused and disoriented as the story reveals itself. Ji Li is offered the chance of a lifetime, a chance that any Chinese teenager would dream of. The government has given Ji Li the opportunity to be trained as a gymnast. Ji Li is being pulled in two different directions, one direction by her family who wants her to turn down the offer, and another by herself who really wants to accept. Ji Li must decide whether she will give into her family, or her own self-centeredness.
Ji Li Jiang told the unfortunate story of the Chinese Cultural Revolution with incredible realism. This journal is told from the point of view of a truly unlucky girl who was born into the gruesome time period filled with tragedy.
Don't be discouraged by the title. If you are the kind of reader that lives for the feeling that completely overcomes you when you get lost in a book, then this is the story is for you! Read one chapter. You won't be able to put it down!

-Scott C.

Used as part of our curriculum.......2007-01-10

We use this book as part of the curriculum for a class that I teach to youth ages 12-17. This book really seems to get them to understand right and wrong forms of government, what a right is- and what it looks like when those rights are taken away, and gives them a sense of appreciation for the freedoms that we have in this country.

Absolutely captivating and brilliant!.......2006-08-18

When I first heard about the book, it was because a friend recomended it. She said it was one of the best books she ever read, and after reading it myself I completely agree. It is about a girl growing up in the Chinese Cultural Revolution and facing the challenge of growing up in a family with a bad reputation according to the government. I liked this book because it really made me think about how kids are living. Also, because I like books about people with a realistic life, not a fairytale. I would reccomend it to any of my friends!

Stinks.......2006-05-12

Don't like it at all. Don't even waste your time reading it. i was forced to read it!!! Two thumbs DOWN :-(!!!

State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols: A Historical Guide Third Edition, Revised and Expanded (State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols)

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For looking up anything state-related!

State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols: A Historical Guide Third Edition, Revised and Expanded (State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols)
Benjamin F. Shearer , and Barbara S. Shearer
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Human Geography | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0313315345

Book Description

This must-have third revised and newly expanded edition of the only single reference source for information about state symbols features over 300 information updates plus three new chapters, updated license plate illustrations, and a newly formatted design for ease of use. Libraries that hold earlier editions of this work need this edition to keep their information on the states and territories current. With the addition of new chapters on state and territory universities, state and territory governors throughout U.S. history, state professional sports teams, and a complete revision of the chapter on state and territory fairs and festivals, the work now totals 17 chapters of essential information that is a treasure trove for students. This completed redesigned reference work features chapters on state and territory names and nicknames, mottoes, seals, flags, capitals, flowers, trees, birds, songs, legal holidays and observances, license plates, postage stamps, miscellaneous designations, fairs and festivals, universities, governors, professional sports teams, and a bibliography of state and territory histories. The work features full-color illustrations of every state and territory seal, flag, flower, tree, bird, commemorative postage stamp, and license plate (updated for this edition).

Customer Reviews:

For looking up anything state-related!.......2002-03-17

Collaborative written by Benjamin and Barbara Shearer, and now available in an updated and expanded third edition, State Names, Seals, Flags, And Symbols: A Historical Guide is a comprehensive, authoritative, superbly presented reference on everything from American state legal holidays, fairs, and festivals to individual state capitols and mottoes. With a full-color section featuring illustrations of every state's seal, flag, flower, tree, bird, commemorative postage stamp and license plate, State Names, Seals, Flags, And Symbols is a first-rate, highly recommended reference for looking up anything state-related!

The Times Atlas of World History (Hammond Concise Atlas of World History)

Average customer rating:

The fifth edition has a different title
Illuminating
Best of many I looked at.
The key historical resource for every household

The Times Atlas of World History (Hammond Concise Atlas of World History)

Manufacturer: Hammond World Atlas Corp
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

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I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman

ASIN: 0723005346

Customer Reviews:

The fifth edition has a different title.......2001-11-11

Note that the latest (1999, 5th) edition is called the "Hammond Atlas of World History," and is available at Amazon.com. There is no mention of "Time" anymore, causing possible confusion. It is superb.

Illuminating.......2001-07-05

In this day and age, where I find so many of us suffering from "historical amnesia", this book is an excellent reference to why our world is the way it is today. If you've ever wondered why that country's border is over here instead of over there, if you've ever wondered what all the fuss was about in what was Yugoslavia, if you've ever why some languages are so alike and why some languages sound like fusions of others, if you are not one of those people who believe the world came into creation after you were born, this book is for you.

The next time you see "Gladiator", "Titanic", or any period film, look at this book and see what the world looked like then. It will give you a tremendous perspective that goes beyond the scope of the films. Who were those barbarians that Maximus was fighting and where did all those other gladiator slaves come from ? It's all here.

Best of many I looked at........1999-08-11

I wouldn't rave forever like the dude from Providence about it. Some of the rivers are left unnamed on some of the maps as if they were not essentially formative during various times in history. With that caveat out of the way, I must have inspected 20 or 30 atlases seeking the most comprehensive historical atlas to help me through Gibbons' Decline and Fall... This is by far the best of the lot.

The key historical resource for every household.......1999-03-31

This book reveals history with an unusual magnetism by its ingenious use of graphic arts. It conveys exponentially greater amounts of information in a single page than even a whole normally written book can. With beautifully crafted, 3-D-appearing maps and inviting use of color, this atlas puts you in an astounding overview of world history not obtainable from normal history publications. I think this book is an absolute must for every household with growing children and a wonderful tool for adults, as well. It's also the penultimate jumping off point for anyone wishing to study history further. And, I must say, it's absolutely perfect for those who hate history! They won't hate it after seeing this book. To give you an indication of my reaction to this book, I bought it now because I'd seen it years ago in our public library at a time when I was out of money. I never forgot it. It has remained one of the priorities I swore I'd attend to as soon as I got back in the money and so, after waiting all those years, I've finally bought my own copy of it. Not many better ways to use that long-awaited money than getting a book like this. I am not a history expert so I cannot possibly have checked this book for historical content. But I don't think that's an issue with this book. I think you'll still know many times more about world history after you're done with this book than without it, even if historians found some text entry or ancient border to argue over. By the way, if my writing style sounds a bit commercial, I really am customer of amazon.com, not a plant by the publisher or something. It's just that I spent a number of years as a typesetter and so have picked up a writing style common to advertisements. That's what we typeset all day long! Sorry.

Average customer rating:

BEAUTIFUL REFERENCE BOOK
Great View of America's History
A map lover's dream

Historical Atlas of the United States
Derek Hayes
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Historical | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0520250362

Book Description

Using more than five hundred historical maps from collections around the world, this stunning book is the first to tell the story of America's past from a unique geographical perspective. Covering more than half a millennium in U.S. history--from conception to colonization to Hurricane Katrina--this atlas documents the discoveries and explorations, the intrigue and negotiations, the technology and the will that led the United States to become what it is today. Richly detailed, visually breathtaking maps are accompanied by extended captions that elucidate the stories and personalities behind their creation.
Coasts and mountains, rivers and lakes, and peaks and plains are described by explorers encountering them for the first time. These maps can convey explorers' ideas of what lay over the mountains ahead, their notions about what was discovered, and their explanations of the land's potential for sponsors back home. The maps can also show a promoter's attempt to sell his project to settlers or a general's assessment of a coming battle. They chart the wars that created and molded the country: the French and Indian War and the War for Independence; the Mexican and Civil Wars; the numerous Indian wars; as well as more localized battles of conquest and survival. Readers can follow the progression of map creation and design as more knowledge was gained about the American continent.
Distilling an enormous amount of information into one handsome volume, the Historical Atlas of the United States highlights the evolution of geographical knowledge at the same time that it presents a fascinating chronicle of the expansion and development of a nation.
Copub: Douglas & McIntyre

Customer Reviews:

BEAUTIFUL REFERENCE BOOK.......2007-02-25

I purchased this book as an aid in understanding the geography of the United States at different periods in history, and it has fulfilled my expectations perfectly. I am writing a biography and this has filled in my lack of knowledge of how people moved from one area to another in the past, when territories became states, the building of the first railroads, who the first nations were who settled the eastern seaboard, and many other details pertinent to my research.

Great View of America's History.......2007-01-30

This is a outstanding book displaying our history through excellent hand drawn maps of America. Many maps presented in this book are from European mapmakers which adds to the "discovery" aspect you will find very interesting; you probably have never seen any of these maps before. There are sometimes four or five colorful maps on each page; the size of this book enables you to easily study the maps as well as provides plenty of room for commentary by Mr. Hayes. This is a quality large book that you will enjoy over several cups of coffee! A great addition to your collection.

A map lover's dream.......2007-01-12

Several things will strike you about this book. The cover's bird's-eye view of Boston in full color is a precursor of things to come. Next, the book measures 13-3/4 by 10-1/4 inches and weighs over four pounds. Every map and every page is printed in gorgeous color. The layout is superb, and most important, the historical information the author gives on these important maps is accurate and well researched.
How can such a magnificent book be published at this price? By having it printed by C&C Offset Printing Co. in China. Incredible.
The author begins, "The story of America's past has been told in many different ways, but never before in any comprehensive form from the unique geographical perspective allowed by the study of original maps." The author embarks on a broad journey covering more than 500 years from conception to colonization and on to the Cold War - from 1492 to 9/11, if you will.
The 535 maps illustrated include almost all of the significant maps which form the rich context of our country's history. Those of us who have been clamoring for history teachers to use maps to encourage students now have a powerful ally in this book. It belongs in every school library in the United States. We know students today concentrate on the visual, not the written word. Here are double page visuals that leap off the printed page to show our changing country. Beautiful bird's-eye views and maps printed large enough so the text explanations can be read with the naked eye.
At this price hopefully you'll want to send a copy to your kids or grandkids. If they're not impressed I'd be surprised and you don't have to tell them how little it cost. A great investment for bringing that generation into the map world.
Bill Warren, Past President, California Map Society

The Modern West: American Landscapes, 1890-1950 (Museum of Fine Arts)

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The Modern West: American Landscapes, 1890-1950 (Museum of Fine Arts)
Emily Ballew Neff
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Modern | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0300114486

Book Description

Drawing extensively from various disciplines including ethnology, geography, geology, and environmental studies, this groundbreaking book addresses shifting concepts of time, history, and landscape in relation to the work of pioneering American artists during the first half of the 20th century. Paintings, watercolors, and photographs by renowned artists such as Frederic Remington, Georgia O’Keeffe, Ansel Adams, Thomas Hart Benton, Dorothea Lange, and Jackson Pollock are considered alongside American Indian ledger drawings, tempuras, and Dineh sandpaintings. Taken together, these works document the quest to create a specifically American art in the decades prior to World War II.

The Modern West begins with a captivating meditation on the relationship between human culture and the physical landscape by Barry Lopez, who traveled the West in the artists’ footsteps. Emily Ballew Neff then describes the evolving importance of the West for American artists working out a radically new aesthetic response to space and place, from artist-explorers on the turn-of-the-century frontier, to visionaries of a Californian arcadia, to desert luminaries who found in its stark topography a natural equivalent to abstraction.

Beautifully illustrated and handsomely designed, this book is essential to anyone interested in the West and the history of modernism in American art.

The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal 1870-1914

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Another Excellent Historical Piece by Mccullough
The Path Between the SeasVery interesting
Panama Visitor
The building of the Panama Canal
Details beyond belief

The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal 1870-1914
David McCullough
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

20th Century | World | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0743262131

Amazon.com

On December 31, 1999, after nearly a century of rule, the United States officially ceded ownership of the Panama Canal to the nation of Panama. That nation did not exist when, in the mid-19th century, Europeans first began to explore the possibilities of creating a link between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the narrow but mountainous isthmus; Panama was then a remote and overlooked part of Colombia.

All that changed, writes David McCullough in his magisterial history of the Canal, in 1848, when prospectors struck gold in California. A wave of fortune seekers descended on Panama from Europe and the eastern United States, seeking quick passage on California-bound ships in the Pacific, and the Panama Railroad, built to serve that traffic, was soon the highest-priced stock listed on the New York Exchange. To build a 51-mile-long ship canal to replace that railroad seemed an easy matter to some investors. But, as McCullough notes, the construction project came to involve the efforts of thousands of workers from many nations over four decades; eventually those workers, laboring in oppressive heat in a vast malarial swamp, removed enough soil and rock to build a pyramid a mile high. In the early years, they toiled under the direction of French entrepreneur Ferdinand de Lesseps, who went bankrupt while pursuing his dream of extending France's empire in the Americas. The United States then entered the picture, with President Theodore Roosevelt orchestrating the purchase of the canal--but not before helping foment a revolution that removed Panama from Colombian rule and placed it squarely in the American camp.

The story of the Panama Canal is complex, full of heroes, villains, and victims. McCullough's long, richly detailed, and eminently literate book pays homage to an immense undertaking. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

The building of the Panama Canal was one of the most grandiose, dramatic, and sweeping adventures of all time. Spanning nearly half a century, from its beginnings by a France in pursuit of glory to its completion by the United States on the eve of World War I, it enlisted men, nations, and money on a scale never before seen. Apart from the great wars, it was the largest, costliest single effort ever mounted anywhere on earth, and it affected the lives of tens of thousands of people throughout the world. Here in all its heartbreak and eventual triumph the epic adventure is brought vividly alive by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of such books as The Johnstown Flood, The Great Bridge, Truman, and John Adams.

Filled with vivid detail and incident, The Path Between the Seas is not only a fact-filled account of an unprecedented engineering feat; it is also the story of the people who were caught up in it -- some to win fame and fortune, others to have their reputations and even their lives destroyed. For many it was the adventure of a lifetime, an adventure whose like will never be seen again. Out of it came a revolution, the birth of a new nation, the conquest of yellow fever, and the expansion of American power.

Told from many viewpoints, this is an account drawn from previously unpublished and undiscovered sources, from interviews with actual participants and their families, from material gathered in Paris, Bogotá, Panama, the Canal Zone, and Washington. It is a canvas filled with memorable people: Ferdinand de Lesseps and his son Charles, trying to repeat de Lesseps's Suez triumph; Jules Verne; Paul Gauguin; Gustave Eiffel; A. T. Mahan and Richard Harding Davis; Senator Mark Hanna; Secretary of State John Hay; the incredible Philippe Bunau-Varilla, "the man who invented Panama"; Dr. William Gorgas; the forgotten American engineer hero John Stevens; Colonel George Washington Goethals; and, above all, Theodore Roosevelt, who "took Panama" in 1903 and left his indelible stamp on the canal.

As informative as it is fascinating, The Path Between the Seas is history told in the grand manner. With novelistic urgency it presents one of the great stories of all time in an account that will remain definitive for many years to come.

With two detailed maps and more than eighty photographs.

Download Description

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Truman, here is the national bestselling epic chronicle of the creation of the Panama Canal. In The Path Between the Seas, acclaimed historian David McCullough delivers a first-rate drama of the sweeping human undertaking that led to the creation of this grand enterprise. The Path Between the Seas tells the story of the men and women who fought against all odds to fulfill the 400-year-old dream of constructing an aquatic passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It is a story of astonishing engineering feats, tremendous medical accomplishments, political power plays, heroic successes, and tragic failures. Applying his remarkable gift for writing lucid, lively exposition, McCullough weaves the many strands of the momentous event into a comprehensive and captivating tale. Winner of the National Book Award for history, the Francis Parkman Prize, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award, and the Cornelius Ryan Award (for the best book of the year on international affairs), The Path Between the Seas is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, the history of technology, international intrigue, and human drama.

Customer Reviews:

Another Excellent Historical Piece by Mccullough.......2007-10-03

Very well researched. Good narrative and excellent voice on the audio version. Not a boring moment combined with excellent history. Perfect audiobook, especially for long trips.

The Path Between the SeasVery interesting .......2007-10-01

Very interesting and detailed history. Since I plan on visiting the Panama Canal soon, this book has greatly enlightened me as to all the engineering, building and political problems that went into and preceeded it's construction. I expect it will increase my enjoyment of the canal.

Panama Visitor.......2007-09-07

I am getting ready for my second Panama Canal Cruise. I wanted to read this this book before my first Panama Cruise but didn't get to it. This is a hard read, as there are so many people to keep track of, especially during the French attempt to dig a canal. This is a very interesting part of U S and World History as told in vivid detail by David McCollugh.

The building of the Panama Canal.......2007-07-19

David McCullough's book of the history of the Panama Canal is a well written and researched document on all aspects of the building of the canal, beginning with the French and completed by the United States. One gets a detailed understanding of the political, economic, and social conditions of France and the United States during these years and the people responsible for this engineering feat. McCullough vividly describes the jungles of Panama and the diseases and hardships endured by the workers. He gives great detail on the design and methods used to build the canal. This book offers history at its best.

Details beyond belief.......2007-07-08

As another reviewer wrote, if you're looking for a book to keep you glued to the edge of your seat, this is not like the one for you. ON the other hand, if you really want to learn all the details and power plays that went into this adventure this is the book, although it does drag a bit at times. The reader will walk away with a working knowledge of this period of history and the major players, not to mention many of the minor ones.

Harbors and High Seas, 3rd Edition : An Atlas and Geographical Guide to the Complete Aubrey-Maturin Novels of Patrick O'Brian, Third Edition

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O'Brian Companion
harbors and high seas
Good companion book
For the true O'Brien aficionado's out there . .
a rather weak effort

Harbors and High Seas, 3rd Edition : An Atlas and Geographical Guide to the Complete Aubrey-Maturin Novels of Patrick O'Brian, Third Edition
Dean King , and John B. Hattendorf
Manufacturer: Owl Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Reference | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Atlases | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0805066144

Amazon.com

Where did Sophie battle the Cacafuego? Where is Aubrey's beloved Ashgrove cottage? What route did Maturin take with his bear? What's so desolate about Kerguelen Island? What's the best route from Botany Bay to Moahu? Find the answers to these and hundreds of other questions in this indispensable guide to the terrain and cartography of O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin novels.

Book Description

This indispensable guide to navigating the well-loved Aubrey-Maturin novels has been updated, with new chapters devoted to the final books in the series. Harbors and High Seas includes maps created exclusively for each of the novels in this world-renowned series.

Customer Reviews:

O'Brian Companion.......2007-10-05

I am more than 1.2 way through the Patrick O'Brian / Jack Aubury series and being a sailor have enjoyed the books very much. This companion allows an even deeper appreciation for the series as it allows me to visualize the places where the historical fiction is taking place.

harbors and high seas.......2007-09-14

This is a must have book when reading the Aubrey-Maturin series. It brings to life the voyages through maps and synopses of each place the ships traveled. Also it explains that some of the locations are fictional but places them in likely locations. I really enjoyed this book and wish I had it when i began reading the series. You have to get it.

Good companion book.......2007-08-22

A great companion book to the O'Brian "Master and Commander" Series. It's nice to see the maps of the places described in the books. It was especially helpful in being able to picture fight scenes and ships positioning. If you want to be able to visualize what the author wants you to see, buy this book.

For the true O'Brien aficionado's out there . . .......2006-06-30

A wonderfully illustrated geographical guide to the complete series. Great for both historians and the geographically-challenged, this book enhances the enjoyment of each novel. While King tries hard to avoid any 'spoilers' one has to be careful in looking at the route plots too early in each novel lest you see unexpected developments revealed - or, as Jack Aubrey would say, you'll be brought by the lee like a true lubber! Enjoy.

a rather weak effort.......2005-12-21

I dislike rambling Amazon user reviews, and so I'll keep this short; Mr. King's book is reasonably good in terms of maps, though one might wish that a few more were added. The introductory material is somewhat interesting, if a bit simplistic. The prose leaves something to be desired; I found myself constantly irritated by particularly inept turns of phrase.

All of this could be forgiven, though, if it were not for the most disappointing aspect --- which is the reason I'm writing this review --- namely, King's summaries of the novels. These summaries were one of the main reasons I decided to buy the book. I had read the first 14 O'Brian novels over the course of three months, earlier this year, but a fall semester of full-time graduate studies understandably pulled me away from the adventures; I found that the passage of time had left the exact order of events a bit hazy, and so I was looking forward to reading summaries of the first 14 installments. King's summaries are truly terrible; he usually recounts only the battles in any given book, if that much, and rarely mentions anything else of note (Diana Villiers and Sophie Aubrey are mentioned only twice each, in passing; Wray is mentioned once). Also, in order to 'avoid spoiling the endings,' he has left out the most important plot points of each novel; in certain cases he will leave out the entire final third of a plot, because to summarize that aspect of the novel would be to 'give away the ending,' which seems to me extremely idiotic if one's stated goal is to provide summaries of the novels (and not, say, a book review, in which one wouldn't want to give away the ending).

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