THE BEST PLACE TO FIND THE COMPELLING FACTS - BUT ANSWERS ARE ELUSIVE
357504
The very best source for those looking to read the known facts associated with the trek of this ill fated team of cross country skiers. I appreciated that what facts are known are very simply presented in a straightforward manner without speculation or elaboration. Even in it's simplicity, it's compelling reading because you know every one of those little facts will come into play when trying to piece together how the tragedy occurred. For those readers that do want "answers" the book does review the prevailing theories. It does lean towards a particular theory, but tries to evenhandedly present the popular theories. There are a few rough reading spots (at least on kindle) because much of this was translated from original sources in Russian from what I can tell, However, I would rather have the original sources translated than have it artistically interpreted and presented to me by a writer who doesn't know the native tongue. If you are looking for a final, conclusive answer then please remember this happened in Russia, in 1959, in the middle of nowhere and with no survivors so there will never be a final answer and you might as well come to terms that. This is one of those mysteries like Amelia Earhart or Roanoke that will always baffle and haunt us and make it a compelling mystery...
2140060
The author focuses on the intersection between politics and science.  He covers both areas well; the politics is interesting and the science is accurate, if my understanding of the subject is correct.

I originally wrote a review that criticized the book for favoring one solution, a solution I consider to be futile, over all the others.  After an exchange of comments with the author, I concluded that the problem was only that I hadn't understood the text.  Perhaps his intent was to collate all the strengths and weaknesses of the various solutions available.  I can imagine that any study like that would contain any number of internal counter-arguments that might appear to be contradictions.  Even after dialoging with him I still am unclear what his intent was.  It could be that my intellect does not grasp the nuances of the manuscript.

I think a reader would gain some good information.  I don't think he would come away with a clear road map of how to solve this important problem.

So I think the book is an interesting read, but only one of many.  If you're trying to choose from among the spate of books on this subject, I'd recommend either&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Whole-Earth-Discipline/dp/0143118285/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Whole Earth Discipline</a>&nbsp;by Stewart Brand or&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Storms-of-My-Grandchildren/dp/1608192008/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Storms of My Grandchildren</a>&nbsp;by James Hansen.
4860171
Endless secrets of the Giza Plateau.
The Giza Plateau, the mysterious Pyramids, and the enigmatic Sphinx are a history mystery wrapped in a conundrum, or is it?  So much has been written on the mysterious Giza Plateau that it begs the question:  What is real and what is pure conjecture?  The essence of ancient Egyptian history and the mysteries of the Giza Plateau can best be summed up by the principle of Occam's Razor.  Still, there are many nagging questions that traditional Egyptologists and leaders of Egyptian Antiquities refuse to answer properly which leads to speculation of the wildest kind.  I tend to favor Hamlet who said, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."  And so there are.  Andrew Collins' Beneath the Pyramids is yet another examination of the mysteries of the Pyramids-more specifically what is under the Pyramids.
Mr. Collins focuses on the question of Edger Cayce's psychic claim of a lost "Hall of Records" buried somewhere beneath the Giza Plateau:  For elaboration on the mythical Hall of Records see [...].  He actually does a good job of explaining what the missing Hall of Records is reported to be, why it was lost, and where it may be found.  He further delves into other Giza Plateau esoteric mysteries as he goes on the hunt for an entrance to the Giza underworld.  Through both exploratory chance and intense scholarly study Mr. Collins actually finds an entrance to Giza's hidden cave world.  Could this be the long sought entrance to the much speculated lost underworld of Giza where the enigmatic Hall of Records is located?  If so, it would rival the lost tomb of King Tut as the find of the millennia. Maybe the find of all time, if the Hall of Records exists with lost knowledge of pre-history cultures.  This is all speculation though, or should I say continued speculation, as the powers to be in Egypt have slammed yet again the door on further exploration.  Nevertheless, I'm sure Mr. Collins will continue his quest for the truth about the amazing Giza underworld and the fabled Hall of Records in future books.
Good solid documented work on yet another history mystery.  A little difficult for the layman to digest in some parts, but the excellent use of photographs helps immensely.  Lots of effort went into this work and Mr. Collins should be commended for his efforts.  Unfortunately, as always, the Egyptian department of Antiquities provided little help.  Recommended as yet another work on the mysterious and enigmatic Giza Plateau.  Also of note is the excellent bibliography that will help the reader explore further the mysteries of ancient Egypt.
1524343
This is an excellent resource for people who are constantly bombarded by ignorant questions about the Bible and claims of contradiction and discrepancies.  These kinds of claims usually come from atheists and other unbelievers who generally have an ax to grind, and they usually try to grind the Bible without sufficient knowledge of the original languages, culture, context, other pertinent facts that would disprove their notions.  The book is far from "hopelessly hopeless."

This is why we have 1 star reviewers who talk about intellect, reason, and facts, when the fact of the matter is they could care less about either of these things.  This book, although somewhat dated, still has valuable answers to questions that still get asked, even after scholarship and learning has answered most of the questions from those who are obviously Biblically illiterate.

For example, in a DVD series done by "The Teaching Company" in the year 2000,  professor Bart Ehrman claims that there is a discrepancy between Mark 14:12 and John 18:28, and yet Haley answered this years before Ehrman was born.  Can someone say "ridiculous"?

Dr. Norman Geisler in his "When Critics Ask" also wrote and answered such claims before Bart's DVD series was made, and yet professor Ehrman pretends that no one has addressed these discrepancy claims.

One of the most profound statements in Haley's book is this:

"'Pertness and ignorance,' says Bishop Horne, 'may ask a question in three lines which it will cost learning and ingenuity thirty pages to answer; and when this is done, the same question shall be triumphantly asked again the next year, as if nothing had ever been written on the subject." (p. 26, Baker Book House, 1989 edition).

The book is not "dated" in the sense that the facts presented do not still hold up.  The sad fact is, too many people simply WANT the Bible to be filled with discrepancies and contradictions so that they can continue in unbelief.  The facts this book presents destroy the illusion they have, and so they must irrationally slam it and use fallacious arguments about age.  Facts are facts, whether they come from an old book or a new one.  The earth was round 400 years ago, and a book that old is still factual stating this fact, and the earth was round yesterday, and a book printed yesterday stating this fact is just as accurate.

Mr. Haley has done us a great service, and it behooves us to read it and research the information it presents.  And if you do that honestly and fairly, you will find that most of the discrepancies people bring up, as Mr. Haley pointed out, "...are purely subjective - originating, primarily, not in the sacred books, but in the misguided prejudices and disordered imagination of the critic" (p. 29).  People like to talk about rationality and reason, but when they get to the Bible, they throw both of those out the window.  Haley helps us help honest people keep their sanity.  Kudos for this old but still good volume.
3859272
This is one of those well-written books that provide a fairly comprehensive scan of a key topic.  In this case the topic is why does anything exist since it makes more sense that nothing exists.  Holt travels the world and engages the key living, and dead, thinkers on the issue.  As he does this he develops his own answer to the key question.  Personally, I found his answer less than satisfying.  It felt to me more like a compromise than a conviction.  Nonetheless, I appreciate his willingness to work toward an answer to such a difficult but important question.  Watch his TED talk for a preview.
3295487
Jack's book covers basic questions like "Is the Bible accurate scientifically & historically?" and "Is there a God?"

Since I, myself, am an author and have posted some blog entries of my research on this subject, this is familiar material to me.

However, I, myself, did not go into near as good of detail as Jack did here:

Jack not only give scientific examples of how Carbon-14 dating has been shown to be inaccurate (good proof that some scientists are wrong about the age of the earth and timing issue), but also explores archaeology and various philosophies -- one of my favourite examples is his quote of great theologian & philosopher, R.C. Sproul, who states that that only four options *exist* for the origin of the universe:

"Option number one, the universe is an illusion, it doesn't exist.
Option number two, it is self-created.
Option number three, it is self-existent and eternal.
Option four, it was created by someone who is self-existent."

Regarding historical evidence for the Bible, Mr. Wellman reminds us that "All the relevant non-Jewish historical sources of the time [including Josephus (AD 37 - c. 100), born of a priestly and royal ancestry] mention Jesus," and adds: "Why would nearly 100 ancient Historians include Christ in their writings if they knew he didn't exist? Josephus, Tacitus, Gibbons, and others (all of which are highly respected) would not have written about someone that was only a myth." thus showing strong evidence that historians and scientists view the Bible as VERY reliable from an historical point of view.

On the manuscript reliability, Jack has this to say: "When compared to most human historical documents, Biblical manuscripts reigns supreme by far...There are
over 6,000 complete or fragmented Greek manuscripts, 10,000 Latin manuscripts and 9,300 manuscripts in various other ancient languages including Syriac, Slavic, Gothic, Ethiopic, Coptic, and even Armenian...Compared with human writings we have some 7 remaining manuscripts of one of the earliest philosophers, Plato, from
around 300 B.C. however the most recent copy of these compositions came 900 years after they were written!"

Honestly, Jack has done a far better job than did I in my meager blog entries on this subject, and I must admit I am a bit jealous. LOL

However, beyond the book here, I also know Jack in real life, and he is truly as honest as he is smart, and both qualities show in his books.

Yes, I'd give his book, "Blind Chance vs Intelligent Design?, Empirical Methodologies & the Bible," a 5 out of 5 rating, and I'm sure you would too. For the price, it's a great deal too!

Gordon Wayne Watts, LAKELAND, Fla.
2967061
If your intention is to study the anatomy of a cover-up operation, then read Mr. Gourley's book.

If you are interested in the truth, then read WHERE DID THE TOWERS GO? by Dr. Judy Wood.

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Where-Did-the-Towers-Go-Evidence-of-Directed-Free-energy-Technology-on-9-11/dp/0615412564/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Where Did the Towers Go? Evidence of Directed Free-energy Technology on 9/11</a>

Those that choose to focus on hearsay, speculation, conspiracy theories, or unqualified opinions while ignoring irrefutable factual evidence by avoiding it is what keeps a cover-up in place. Diverting the public to arguing between the two false choices of "9/11 Truthers" verses "The Official 9/11 Conspiracy Theory" while ignoring the evidence that Dr. Judy Wood presents in WHERE DID THE TOWERS GO? is classic perception management designed to hide and obscure the evidence.

James R Gourley and many of the speakers from the "Toronto Hearing" are US based yet they chose to hold this event in Canada. Were they afraid of being prosecuted under the Smith-Mundt act as it relates to how propaganda is allowed to be used by the government in the United States? In 1985, an amendment to the act wanted to ensure "no funds authorized to be appropriated to the United States Information Agency shall be used to influence public opinion in the United States, and no program material prepared by the United States Information Agency shall be distributed within the United States."

The definition of a judicial hearing is... " A proceeding before a judicial officer in which the officer must decide whether a crime was committed, whether the crime occurred within the territorial jurisdiction of the court, and whether there is Probable Cause to believe that the defendant committed the crime." HOWEVER 1.) No judge from the United States was present. 2.) A Canadian court has no territorial jurisdiction for a crime that occurred in the United States. 3.) No judgment, decree, or determination of findings of fact and/or of law occurred 4.) No person, group, or agency was accused of any crime.

It wasn't poor construction, jet fuel, demolition charges of any type, missiles or planes, mini-nukes, or super-duper-micro-mini-nano-thermite that turned two quarter mile high buildings with a combined weight of over a million tons into microscopic dust particles in mid-air taking less than 10 seconds each. There were over 100 floors in each tower. Try clapping your hands 100 times in 10 seconds.

The truth does not depend on who supports it. Truth is not a club or a matter of "opinion" or "belief". Neither is truth a political or economic objective. Truth doesn't have sides. The truth is singular and the truth is unifying. By reading Dr. Wood's research and collection of evidence as compiled in her book the truth is known, so there is no need to "Re-investigate 9/11". If you want unity, then seek the truth by reading her book. If you were assigned to do a book report, would you read the book or rely on rumors, conjecture, and uninformed opinions from other people? This isn't about beliefs, it is about evidence.

Now those that have read WHERE DID THE TOWERS GO? know the truth. Those covering it up should be held accountable. After all, it is the cover up that has enabled what has transpired since 9/11, not what happened on 9/11. So the cover up of 9/11 has been a far worse crime than 9/11 itself. Remember, the truth is known and is knowable. Should those involved in the cover-up like James R Gourley, David Ray Griffin, Michel Chossudovsky, Paul Zarembka, Jonathan Cole, David Chandler, Niels Harrit, Richard Gage, Kevin Ryan, and others be executed or spend the rest of their life in prison???
98534
I stumbled on this book when I was doing research on the Josie King story for a class project in nursing school. It was quite enlightening. However, I would really like to know more about how the author was able to uncover all the information that he did. It seems like an impossible undertaking (e.g. the quotes from various physicians at their conventions). Are these actually on record?  It seems that such incriminating evidence would be kept buried.
4524020
This book is an interesting read, and author has put a lot of effort to compile all the facts. However, I am not sure how much is fact, how much is fiction ... It is hard to tell from reading this book, and some parts seems to be convincing. If a new world order does exist, that would be really scary.
4431557
OK, I admit I am really into this type of ancient historical hypothesis. I love seeing real evidence that challenges mainstream science. I am someone that is willing to believe in different historical data than we are used too. heck, for that matter I will be willing to believe in Bigfoot, aliens or the Loch Ness monster -- but I need some proof, not just stories or legends.

Alot of interesting theories are presented in this book. While some follow-up the theory with evidence (such as DNA tests, photos, etc), many just don't do anything to prove the case other than speculation and stories handed down. In fact some of the presented material has nothing to show other than speculation based on what someone said was told to them. And even then it is often based on something that was said or found by someone long dead and unable to verify.

I would have preferred that the presented material be broken down by region (it jumped from North America to South America and all around throughout the book) then show the reader the hard facts, DNA tests and photos. Then if you want use conjecture and legend to help back-up your actual proof.

Also there are some editing issues with the Kindle edition that made reading some passages difficult.

Overall an interesting read, but some boring information with little proof thrown in which dragged down the factual parts.
4946422
The hypotheses P.F.J. Turner supports in this book are entirely possible--but, our evidence is far too scanty to ever confirm or deny it!  Mr. Turner is an excellent historian and knows his sources well; however, this work owes as much to his incredible imagination as his command of history.  Perhaps we need more of this sort of work, to put some flair into history, some meat on the bare-bones of rigorous, academic historical research.  A bit of speculation is good, and this work is two whole volumes of some of the most interesting hypotheses, suppositions, and speculations I've ever seen in post-Roman British history!  An excellent read, but best supplemented with something more rigorous.
3969086
I really wanted to give this a better rating. Let's say 3.5 stars. Many fascinating entries, but too many things people believe that people don't really believe, too many that are very likely wrong or twisted or exaggerated, too many not proofed, and no sourcing whatsoever. The last is a killer. But otherwise a fun read.
3298921
This is definitely an excellent work of research, so why only three stars rather than the five stars it deserves? Because there are no footnotes, no references! Unbelievably in a book so well-researched, the author gives no sources, at least not in the Kindle version, nor, it appears, in the print version. As a result, much of this appears as "allegation" rather than documented facts, because it isn't DOCUMENTED. This is a mega-tragedy and a major flaw for a book that deserves to be read and taken seriously. But the author appears not to have taken his own work seriously enough to give the reader his sources (where possible).
On the positive side, the writing is dramatic and engaging and even convincing, despite the fact that we can't necessarily take anything he writes here as fact since we can't verify anything other than on the basis of the author's own authority. Too bad.
307320
This book is a great summary of all that's wrong with information. With the increasing glut of information, it is difficult to cull through to find something that resembles defendable facts.

There is no "answer" to the question of what information is "right", since Freedman points out that much, if not all of what we read is fictional in some sense.

Recently Ben Bernanke was asked how confident that the bond buyback was going to be successful and he said he was 100% confident. This statement alone is indicative of wrong information. How can he, as an economist be 100% certain of anything? This is an example of information that should be discounted by about 100%.

This book provides techniques you can use as filters when examining information from various sources and I think that's great. There is no "right" answer but there are potentially many "wrong" answers that can be exposed by applying some of the techniques he describes in the book.

If only there was some software that would apply these filters to Google searches and warn you of the potential for bias, fraud, and incompetence. Perhaps a "truthiness" detector?
3532382
The book was published in 2006, and there's no guarantee that its information is still accurate, especially with regard to "places to stay." Still, the site backgrounds and descriptions will definitely make you want to do some historical traveling in the near future.
1841657
Then study mathematics.
Looking for reality? Then you might be open to studying modern history, politics and culture. I'm convinced at this point that nothing short of a dry run of unexplained facts (such as numbers, geographic maps, etc.) could possibly satisfy all sides; otherwise, everyone's looking for a trumpet to praise their side of the story.
Thomas Friedman gives a vivid portrait that goes further than anything I've read to date to present a complete picture of the Israel/Palestine region as he sees it. If you want to understand the region, I'd suggest starting here. If you want to feel better about your own personal inclinations, I'd suggest the official websites of either the Israeli Foreign Ministry or the Palestinian Authority.
627189
Acemoglu sheds light on this puzzle that many has tried to explain but fail to go in the right direction.