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.

Average customer rating:

Philosophy of history
Chess Facts And Fables
"Disengaging Fact and Fable"

Chess Facts And Fables
Edward Winter
Manufacturer: McFarland & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786423102

Product Description

Chess has developed such a large body of myth and folklore that sorting fact from fiction is not easy. As with Edward Winter’s previous volumes in his “Chess Notes” series—Chess Explorations (1996), Kings, Commoners and Knaves (1999) and A Chess Omnibus (2003)—this work (from a new publisher) features in-depth research into chess lore, corrections of popular misconceptions, biographical notes on famous players, and authenticated quotations. There is a rich selection of forgotten games, and many items include contributions from the author’s correspondents worldwide. Written for the general chess enthusiast and the devotee of chess history, the book is illustrated with more than 220 rare photographs and 122 diagrams of chess positions. It concludes with a bibliography and indexes of players, games and openings, illustrations, and general subjects.

Customer Reviews:

Philosophy of history.......2007-08-22

Historiographical analysis.

(L) I would like to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Edward Winter's work but do note: I am not attacking or praising "the man" but offering effective exegesis on "his work."

The advantages are obvious: precise, well-cited, no grammatical errors in the text and to the novice reader, consistant. The information is quoted exactly from seconday sources and nothing is ever left out. Refuting fables written by other "historians" is very noticeable in Winter's work but it is necessary for any historical subject. It is clearly evident that no other chess historian stands on Winter's level and any "historian" should hopefully produce the same results in the future. To make matters simply, one only needs to read his article titled, "Worst-ever Chess Book?"

The disadvantages are not noticeable to the novice reader and now the subject turns into a philosophical and historiographical one. In The Idea of History (Oxford University Press, 1994The Idea of History: With Lectures 1926-1928, Revised edition with an introduction by Jan Van Der Dussen) R.G.Collingwood writes, (page 257)

"History constructed by excerpting and combing the testimonies of different authorites I call scissors-and-past history."

We see this in all of Winter's work such as, for example:

In contrast, on page 79 of A Short History of Chess (written in 1917 but not published until 1963) Murray wrote that Johann Allgaier `was the conductor of the Automaton when it played and defeated Napoleon'

or

The BCM (October 1922 issue, pages 375-376) reported that on the morning of Thursday 14 September 1922 Williams was found dead in bed:

or

1922: Samuel Reshevsky (C.N. 742)

A report on pages 16-17 of the January 1923 BCM:

It is very useful to note exact references and citings from other works but let's return to R.G.Collingwoood's, the Idea of History, in which he writes, (page 260)

"Now, anyone who had read Vico, or even a second-hand version of some of his ideas, must have known that the important question about any statement contained in a source is not whether it is true or false, but what it means. And to ask what it means is to step right outside the world of scissors-and-paste history into a world where history is not written by copying out the testimony of the best sources, by BY COMING TO YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS (caps are mine)

Winter never comes to his conclusions but only compiles "facts" and "fables" from the works of others. His articles are a compilation of material already printed from other authorities or, "correspondents." He is not a writer nor an historian but an experienced researcher. Historians come to their own conclusions drawn from primary sources. Primary sources are archaeological artifacts, scientific data, etc. Secondary sources are books, articles, or columns, written about them.

To understand this concept more clearly, let's use the following model of history:

(a) Archaeologists discover primary sources: thier job is to dig up material and decipher these materials using scientific analysis.

(b) Researchers then compile this data and categorize this information.

(c) After the compiled work of the researcher from the material discovered by the archaeologist, the historian will now come to his own conclusion as to what happened, where, why, who, and when. He must produce exact, unbiased, and scientific analysis in a book (the secondary source)

(d) After the historian has drawn his own conclusions, there is one more person in our model, (often the most critical) and that is the writer: his job is to make a story out of it or to produce a moral or fable. This is where "lost in translation" occurs, or better yet, an old adage says: "traduttori traditori"

It is very easy to copy already printed material from other chess books, but coming to your own conclusions from primary sources, is the making of a real historian. There is nothing original, "stunning" or "riveting" about Winter's work...only that is brilliantly researched as compared to the works of other chess historians. This is the faux paus of his work but since there are only a handful of chess researchers/historians (the subject is very limited) his books are monumental compared to others.

One needs to be very skeptical about such historical tidbits, no matter how tedious or time-consuming it may be. Jan Timman writes the the following taken from his foreword of Winter's other book, A Chess Omnibus:

"He is particularly skilled at sifting research material from a multitude of sources thoughout the world and drawing everything together in the form of elegant essays and notes which take our knowledge forward."

This...I agree (T)

Chess Facts And Fables.......2007-05-14

Mr.Winter is THE MAN , of Chess History. I have played the art my whole life off and on , and I can tell you that no one has researched the science and mystery of the royal game as has this man.If you like to read in the WC , then I suggest you not take this into that chamber! You will never get off the Pot! The volume is packed with rare photos and is a treasure trove of inside information on the great masters and history of Caissa`s web!
A Thumbs Up!

"Disengaging Fact and Fable".......2006-03-04

This book is a generous selection of items from Edward Winter's long-running "Chess Notes" column. Its goal--like that of "Chess Notes" in general--is, first, to discover and investigate new (or forgotten) facts about chess history, and, second, to explode old fables circulating as "facts". There is no way to fairly review all of the material in the book, but a few examples will give the idea:

1). In the "Games" section, Winter presents many dozens of unknown games by famous masters--and also investigates in detail what is possibly the most famous game of all time (Morphy vs. the Duke and Count), noting that much of what is written about that game in various books has no basis in fact.

2). The "Biography" section contains much information on lesser-known or unjustly forgotten players (such as Gossip and Mary Rudge) and investigation of lesser-known aspects of famous players' life (such as Blackburne's feats as a problemist). But it also investigates and disproves fables (not to say libels) about famous players, such as the claim that Alekhine "smashed the furniture" after losing a game, or Sultan Khan being "completely illiterate".

3). The "Quotes" section--perhaps the area of chess history where fable is the most prevelant--Winter gives us forgotten genuine quotes about chess which are deserve to be remembered for being either especially insightful or spectacularly awful. But he also investigates the origins of oft-quoted chess cliches ("The threat is stronger than the execution"; "Chess is vanity"; etc.), finding that, in many cases, the master to whom the quote is usually attributed probably never said it.

Of course these are just examples--the book contains, literally, hundreds of items on every aspect of chess history, all throroughly researched.

So what? One could say. Why replace the amusing tall tales with dour, boring truths? But the book's real strength is that truth, in chess, is often stranger than fiction. The true biographies, games, histories, quotes, and incidents from players' lives and famous tournaments, are more often than not FAR more interesting and amusing, than the ersatz "Morphy once said", "Alekhine once did", "Steinitz once played" 'history' presented to us in one potboiler after another.

If one has any interest in chess history at all, one should get this book (and for that matter, Winter's previous ones). Not only will you be educated about chess history, you will also be greatly entertained. It is a rare book indeed that manages to do both well, and an even rarer one that can amuse and entertain so well without sacrifising anything in accuracy and thoroughness.

Average customer rating:

not bad,but neither good

A Useful Non-Profit Guide

He didn't make a strong argument for each point

Invaluable for all non-profits

Great Book of Leaders of NonProfits

Managing the Non-Profit Organization: Principles and Practices
Peter F. Drucker
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Managing a Nonprofit Organization in the Twenty-First Century

The Complete Guide to Nonprofit Management

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Nonprofit Kit For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance))

How to Manage an Effective Nonprofit Organization: From Writing and Managing Grants to Fundraising, Board Development, and Strategic Planning

ASIN: 0887306012

Book Description

The service, or non-profit, sector of our society is growing rapidly (with more than 8 million employees and more than 80 million volunteers), creating a major need for guidelines and expert advice on how to manage these organizations effectively. Drucker gives examples and explanations of mission, leadership, resources, marketing, goals, people development, decision making, and much more. Included are interviews with nine experts that address key issues in the non-profit sector.

Customer Reviews:

not bad,but neither good.......2005-09-10

it is pretty general,there is no such thing as advice or anything the like about practices.he insists in almost every chapter that the mission is the most important thing.the only intersting ideas in his book are some about leadership, but i felt very much that i already knew them,he only confirmed them.this is not to say i am a genius.i am 18, so i guess if you are involved in running a nonprofit for more than one year, you would be able to write a better book.

for a beginner it might be intersting to get it from the library, and read it in a train or so.

not bad, but getting a book on leadership,and other one on marketing is a much better idea.

A Useful Non-Profit Guide.......2004-12-14

Peter F. Drucker has put together an excellent resource for Non-Profit managers. The book is an easy read and is organized in a very thoughtful and ordered manner. The book guides you from the creation of a mission statement to the betterment of yourself as a person and an executive. The most interesting part of the book, in my opinion, are the interviews that accompany each chapter. Prominent leaders in the non-profit arena accent each topic with practical stories and practical results. The book begins with a helpful overview of what a non-profit organization is and what it should be doing in today's society. The rest of the book concentrates on making five points manifest. Part one emphasizes the importance of having a solid, practical, and workable mission statement. Part two shows you how to take that mission statement and turn it into pragmatic results. Part three focuses on management in the non-profit organization and how it differs from management in the business realm. Part four is a short tutorial that will enable you to get the most out of the people in your organization and part five pertains to personal development; development as a person, as an executive, and as a leader. This is the first Peter Drucker book I have read, but it won't be my last. I feel that he has a thorough understanding of the many differences between businesses and non-profits and eloquently offers useful insight on how to better the work of non-profit institutions.

He didn't make a strong argument for each point.......2004-02-09

This book contains a lot of useful information, yet the only problem lies on his way to express and prove it. Normally, I saw he made a point, then gave an example for that point which also help him jump to another point... After all, it's really hard to absorb something out of this book. It will be better if the author pays more attention to explain his point, makes his argument stronger.

Invaluable for all non-profits.......2003-10-17

Non-profit institutions, the agents of human change, have moved from the margins to the center of American society because government has limited ability to perform social tasks. As non-profits are the nation's biggest "employer" when considering the numbers of hours contributed by volunteers they need good management. There is not much material available to help non-profit leaders and management with such areas as mission, strategy, organization, marketing, raising money, innovation, use of volunteers and human resources, the role of the board, and relationships with a diversity of constituencies. This lack of material combined with high levels of commitment may contribute to the high rate of burnout. Although non-profit institutions have been America's resounding success and growth industry over the last fifty years they still receive only 2-3% of GNP while the share for medicine and education has increased several times. Drucker considers the first task ahead for non-profits to be the conversion of "donors" into "contributors." Contributing time to a non-profit gives people a sense of community, purpose, direction and the ability to perform and achieve. But most non-profits still have to learn this. This book therefore sets out to do two things: provide advice from the business world appropriate to the non-profit and, through interviews with distinguished non-profit performers, show what can and should be done.

The book has five sections, the first being "The Mission Comes First: and your role as a leader." I provide a few snippets that were particularly meaningful to me. Some mission statements work while others don't work, the ultimate test being right action. Almost every hospital says "Our mission is health care" which is wrong because no one can tell you what action or behavior follows. The mission statements for some colleges are confused. On the other hand Sears Roebuck went from a near-bankrupt, struggling mail-order house at the beginning of the last century into the world's leading retailer within less than ten years by having a mission statement that was operational and focused on what they tried to do so that each person involved can say "This is my contribution to the goal." When an emergency room got its mission statement right, everyone was seen by a qualified person in less than a minute. But missions have to be reviewed, revised and perhaps measures need to be taken for organized abandonment. Things that were of primary importance may become secondary or totally irrelevant. The author tells us to watch this carefully or we may become a museum piece.

To get the mission statement right, there are a number of searching questions that must be asked such as "where can we, with our limited resources, make a difference?", "can we set a new standard?", "what are the opportunities or needs?", "do they fit us?", "can we do a good job?", "are we competent?", "do the needs match our strengths?" and "do we really believe in this?" The author closes this section with the following paragraph:
"So you need three things: opportunities; competence; and commitment. Every mission statement, believe me, has to reflect all three or it will fall down on what is its ultimate goal, its ultimate purpose and final test. It will not mobilize the human resources of the organization for getting the right things done."

In the section "Leadership is a Foul-Weather Job" Drucker takes a refreshingly different approach by recalling that Winston Churchill was the most successful leader of the last century. But from 1928 to 1940 he was on the sidelines and almost discredited because there was no need for a Churchill. Fortunately he was there when the crisis came. The one predictable thing in an organization is the crisis. That is when you do depend on the leader. But to wait until the crisis hits is abdication. One has to make the organization capable of anticipating the storm, weathering it, and being ahead of it. That is called innovation or constant renewal. You have to build an organization that is battle ready. Having told us this the author goes on to say "Problems of success have ruined more organizations than has failure, partly because if things go wrong, everybody knows they have to go to work. Success creates its own euphoria. You outrun your resources. And you retire on the job, which may be the most difficult thing to fight." Let me quote one more observation on leadership. "To every leader there is a season. There is profundity in that statement, but it's not that simple. Winston Churchill in ordinary peaceful, normal times would not have been very effective. He needed the challenge. Probably the same is true of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was basically a lazy man. I don't think FDR would have been a good president in the 1920s. His adrenalin wouldn't have produced. On the other hand, there are people who are very good when things are pretty routine, but who can't take the stress of an emergency. Most organizations need somebody who can lead regardless of the weather. What matters is that he or she works on the basic competencies."

We are indeed fortunate that such an outstanding mind as Peter Drucker has turned his attention to the non-profit sector. There will be few institutions that cannot improve their performance by absorbing the lessons from this book. In this period of rapid change as Drucker says "the only predictable thing is a crisis." If you are a trustee of a non-profit you need this book as a constant reference and guide. If you hold a position of power you should be thoroughly familiar with every piece of information that is relevant to your institution. If you are working for an organization that you fear may be heading downhill this book will help you to become the champion. There is so much wisdom in this book that only the foolhardy will believe that they have a superior wisdom and can do without it.
dwillis@afs.edu.gr

Great Book of Leaders of NonProfits.......2003-09-09

This delightful book is a collection of essays and interviews by Peter Drucker concerning the management, mission, performance strategies, people development and leadership development of the non-profit organization. The format of essay and interview gives the reader not only the wisdom of Druckers insights, but also the wisdom and practical applications of those who manage non-profits organizations. I am especially appreciative that Drucker did not ignore the church in this book; his insights to church management are worth the price of this book.

I have heard of this sage of business and economics for years, but have never had the privilege of reading one of his books. His advice is born out of years of experience in the business community. He has a knack to communicate complex ideas with simple words. The fact that his book was not especially written for churches (although it does not ignore them) is one of its greatest strengths for the pastor. It demonstrates that service is service; mission is mission; and leadership is leadership, no matter what the nature of the non-profit is. As I looked at the examples given in the text I can see the strength and weaknesses of the church.

It is a book full of helpful advice. Some of Druckers insights are: the importance of mission over natural charisma; one does not have to be a dynamic leader to do great things. It is important to set high standards for your people to aim at. Good intentions are not enough; one needs a plan, marketing, people and money to get good results. Leadership takes courage. Good ideas are a dime a dozen; we need people with ability and willingness to get results. It is important that we see the community and not church members as our consumer base. Change takes time, so be patient.

It's a great book for any leader of any non-profit.

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Managing the Nonprofit Organization: Practices and Principles
Peter Ferdinand Drucker
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Managing the Non-Profit Organization : Principles and Practices
Peter F. Drucker
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
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Managing the Non-Profit Organization: Practices and Principles
Peter F. Drucker
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
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Average customer rating:
Managing the Non-Profit Organization. Principles and Practices

Manufacturer: HarperBusiness. Harper Collins Publisher.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000I3BSE6

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