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Cats arrived on time for a birthday gift. They are exactly what I expected. BK

i love this product, i'm going to buy another one just because it's so beautiful. it's not cheap looking.

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This book was used as the text for a course I have taken on the Aegean Bronze Age by Professor Shelmerdine herself. This time period is absolutely fascinating for those interested, and this book will enhance the understanding of any who choose to study the Bronze Age. It is well organized, and there are no overly esoteric concepts, though some prior knowledge is assumed. You might also have to look up a word or two, but the point is to learn something new, right? I highly recommend this text for anyone interested in the Bronze Age or early antiquity. And if you can manage to get a class with Professor Shelmerdine, so much the better!

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Having an intrest in the remote past this book goes into great detail and anaylizes various theories and ther merrit to events that took place long ago. I was suprised how little we actually know and how much is theory and speculation. I like the different methods from lingustic to surviving texts to archology to tell the most acurate story and also present some the debates in the comunity on the range of topics.

This book covers everything that you need to introduce yourself to the end of the Bronze Age. It introduces you to countries and characters who you would never hear of otherwise. Apart from the Mycenaeans made famous by Homer, and the Egyptians who have earned their own fame through their brilliant structures, there are also the Hittites and their perpetual enemies the Assyrians. This book can show you worlds which few people know existed.

Buyers of this book should beware that it is self-published, and needs editing. Aside from the spelling errors ("court marshal" for "court martial") and meandering prose style, some of the arguments seem weak. For example, we're told that the number of villages in Greece declined after the fall of Mycenae, and that the population of Europe declined after the Black Death of the Middle Ages; therefore, the fall of Mycenae might have been accompanied by the plague. The author doesn't say whether this is a widely held opinion, or merely his own speculation; and without any biographical information about the author, it's hard to know what's reliable in the book, and what's not.

This book is only tangentially concerned with the Near East Bronze Age as it waxed and waned in the Fertile Crescent (Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt) as well as its cultural extensions into the Anatolian highlands and the Aegean Region (including Greece). And it is not focused on the "Collapse of the Bronze Age." As Robbins makes clear the Bronze Age of the Near East transitioned into the Iron Age imperceptibly and, to the people involved seamlessly. Rather the book has a number of interesting stories that are tied together only by location (the Eastern Mediterranean), time period (the transition from the Bronze to Iron Age), and the mysterious phenomenon of the Peoples of the Sea movement. Robbins focuses particular attention to the dissolution or collapse of the proto-Greek Mycenaean Society and the Anatolian based Hittite Society. He uses both events to illustrate that the transition of the Bronze Age into the Iron Age was accompanied by a good deal of social disorder, movements of peoples, and collapse of empires. While archaeologists and historians are in general agreement that the ending of the Near Eastern Bronze Age was a time of social and political upheaval, they disagree about why this was so. In this book, Robbins comes down on the side of migration-invasion and disruptions by the so-called Peoples of the Sea. He does also note however that natural disasters clearly could have had a role as well, particularly in Greece. He also discusses the destruction of the seldom mentioned advanced civilization of Cyprus which occurred during this same period. And, in a rather long aside, he also discusses the origins of the Jews and the occupation of Canaan by the tribes of Israel. Presumably because this also occurred around the end of the Bronze Age and the Israelites also had to cope with the Peoples of the Sea. This book has some good tales to tell, but appears to lack focus. It is filled with digressions and expositions on matters not directly related to the social collapses of the late Bronze Age. On the other hand Robbins brushes over relevant information such as the Island of Crete where the Bronze Age began for the Aegean region and whose civilization defused to mainland Mycenae. And Cretan society also was disrupted at the end of the Bronze Age. Yet his only concern with Crete has to do with origins of the Peoples of the Sea. He also ignores the Mycenaean Linear A and B scripts which tell a good deal about these proto-Greeks and their way of life. In short this is an interesting book that could have been much better.

This could have been written better. Too much redundancy to make for an enjoyable read and it draws conclusions rather weakly. Its section on Israel relies far too much on biblical historic inaccuracies to prove some points - very biased, even although he lists more modern archaeological writings in the bibliography. This book is probably not worth the price which is a shame, as such a broad review would have had value.

Reviews

Dickinson has put together a wonderful and thorough text. It can be hard to read in some places and with references to miscellaneous materials inserted into the middle of sentences. All-in-all, wonderful research material or advanced text, but too extensive for a beginner text.

A well written book using up to date discoveries in archeology. Indeed the archeological evidence presented in this book is quite good focusing not only on man made artifacts but burial customs. To my mind the subject of trade is key to this book. It is written a scholarly fashion yet is approachable. From the archeological evidence theories are offered but the authors do not force any one position but offer them all in a level headed fashion. You will find yourself reading it from cover to cover but cherishing it as a reference.

I found this book very helpfull while studing Aegean Prehistory in University. Comprehensive and well documented with some very helpfull plates gives a summary of Aegean Bronze Age archaeological data. Enters not so mutch in details but covers many aspects of the vast Bronze Age data of Aegean. I would strongly suggest this book for archaeology students interested in the Aegean region

This was an excellent overall survey of the material, and a great reference work that can be return to again and again, to harden up on the facts, and to get titles of other books and journal articles on each of the specific subject areas. It can at times get a little confusing, with the avalanche of place names and the vagueness with which he describes many of the artefacts, but you still come out knowing a heck of alot more than you did before going in. Also, he has no particular axe to grind--no big theories that can be so annoying in this field. Overall, an excellent book.

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Fun reading material for someone visiting AZ. How true the stories? Well, that's for you to decide.

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New Mexico Treasure Tales by W. C. Jameson is a small treasure within itself. This is the type of book you could easily read within a couple of hours of straight reading, but...not the type; you would want to. This is a fun book, a book filled with an array of lost-treasure stories that manipulate and tease the imagination. Based on all true events, the author gives the reader just enough of the alleged story lines to let them know that there were real people involved in the loosing of these very real treasures. Like the Sirens' calling to Ulysses, the reader is drawn deeper into the enchanted lands of New Mexico. Unlike the more serious focused treasure hunting books such as: "What Men Call Treasure: The Search for Gold at Victorio Peak" by David Schweidel and Robert Boswell, or the classic Atocha find by Mel Fisher, this book still allows the reader to dream without sinking into the quicksand of financial ruin, State and Federal tax responsibilities, or... becoming choked to death by legal law-suits if, one were "lucky" enough to find a treasure. New Mexico Treasure Tales lets the reader keep that small portion of an "Indiana Jones" persona and still continue to go about the drudgeries of everyday life. This is the type of book you should take with you along to the doctor's office, a business trip, a vacation, or....to keep by your bedside. Where ever you may go, this is a nice little companion to carry along. Enjoy this read!!

This books makes you feel like you can go and find the treasure yourself. It is a book of stories of treasures in New Mexico. It is a fascinating read with enough detail to keep it interesting anad yet not too much detail that you get bogged down while reading it. Each chapter is a short story or a short essay about one treasure. This is a good book to use for ideas of exploring underexplored areas of New Mexico. It is an enjoyable read.

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I am satisfied with this book very imformative easy to understand.Lots of good information. I was pleased with the condition of the book as well and I was satisfied with how quickly I received the book in the mail.

Overall, the book would be a good addition to a home library, but when more professional responses are needed, the reader should be aware that the material is outdated. I purchased the 2003 Reprint in 2004 and it was already out of date then. Many of the resources just aren't available either to verify the information as the text uses such old resources that they are either out of print or just unavailable. One good point... it does give recognition to which is the better rendering of word usage--either the KJV or the NIV.

Though there may be a mistake or error here or there; they are not so serious as to get the student of the Bible into serious doctrinal error. For the most part this book will be a big help for young and old readers alike. As with any dictionary or encyclopedia the infomration is general but often very revealing. This book will be a "cap-filler", as one publisher once put it, in your personal reference library.

This book has many errors, and displays them proudly. It seems to support many misconceptions in people have about the Bible. While claiming to explain what terms in the Bible actually mean, it actually distorts the meaning. For example, it talks about the verse in mark about the camel going through the eye of the needle, and explains how there was a gate called "the needles eye" in Jerusalem. While many laymen believe this, this just ain't so. There has never been any substantial evidence to back up this claim. If one is interested in a book like this, I suggest a book translated from German titled "What the Bible Really Says" or "The Oxford Companion to the Bible." Leave Freeman's book on the shelf.

Out of the 4 or 5 books on Bible manners and customs that reside in my small home library, this book is most definately the best and most used. Freeman presents insightful and relevant cultural background to almost every important verse in every book of the Bible. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to be purchased by anyone remotely interested in the manners and customs of Bible times. It is a real winner and should be in everyone's library

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I love Clive Cussler's, Dirk Pitt books, and this one as all the rest was great!

My biggest criticism of this book is its excessive length. The story could have been told in half the pages, with no loss of content. Pitt endures unimaginable pain in a series of Peruvian and Mexican adventures to save the lost Incan treasure from landing in the hands of James Bond-like bad guys (which seemed much like the Christopher Walken character in "A View to a Kill"). Along the way, Pitt's girlfriend, the congresswoman, gets kidnapped, and some interesting helicopter action occurs. After you have read a few Cussler adventures, they start to become ho-hum, unfortunately. If this was your first Pitt adventure, I'm sure you will love it.

This was purchased for my legally blind neighbor - he is thrilled. And the price was right!

Clive Cussler has yet to write a bad book! Always a great adventure and interesting characters.

Inca Gold by Clive Cussler is part of the Dirk Pitt Adventure Series. This is what I view as great airplane reading. I prefer to read on long plane trips, as compared to watching the movie or sleeping. On a flight out to the coast, I can usually finish a Clive Cussler book. Sometimes it might take back and forth. On such trips, I find Dirk Pitt to be a good companion. This is basically serial adventure telling and I like this style. This particular book, as with all the Dirk Pitt books, involves a tie between theories about ancient history and modern technology. It involves amazing escapes, beautiful women, and strong, handsome, smart, resourceful men. Meaning it is easy to see myself as the hero, of course. Ok, why only 4 stars? In this book Cussler decides to teach the reader some sort of strange lesson about the metric system. As such, all measures are presented in both traditional US distances and also metric distances. After awhile, this become much more annoying than educational.

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Bingham is a remarkably under-addressed subject; Heaney's book fills a gap that nobody has really tried to address for several decades now, and it does the job well. Heaney bookends Bingham's story with some reflections of his own, and that is probably the least appealing choice he makes. It's not that his personal experiences are uninteresting-- they just seem like a bit of an afterthought and they made me wonder if this could have made a good Tony Horowitz-style blend of scholarship, travel writing, and history. And the attempt to link Bingham to Indiana Jones is worth perhaps a paragraph here or there, but it's not really a large enough hook to hang the entire book on. All that aside, Heaney has done a nice job with Bingham's story. It's not an easy story to tell-- Bingham is not an altogether admirable man, and he completely blew the chance to find the major goal of all his searching, looking right at the Last City and failing to put the pieces together. And his treatment of the finds that he did uncover is a perfect study is how one country's archaeological scholar is another country's graverobbing thief. On the other hand, Bingham uncovered some very cool and very important stuff and spearheaded a whole wave of discovery of a civilization that might otherwise have been lost to modern knowledge. Heaney does a good job of balancing all of this, painting Bingham as neither an admirable hero or a horrible monster. Ultimately Bingham's story is not only the tale of the fantastic ruins that he uncovered, but modern man's difficult relationship with other times and cultures as well as an illustration of how the quest for knowledge leads through a jungle of many difficult ethical and moral questions. My one beef-- Heaney's descriptions of the ruins made me long for more photos than the few that are included in the book. Order this, but also grab one of the fine photographic records of the ruins.

This book narrates the adventure (and misadventures) of Yale University professor Hiram Bingham in the 1911 discovery of Machu Picchu, currently one of the most popular tourist spots in the Americas. With the help of Peruvian scholars like Carlos Romero and local informants like Juan Quispicusi, Bigham found Vitcos and Espiritu Pampa, scenes of the final moments of Manco Inca, Titu Cusi, and Tupac Arnaru, three of the important and tragic figures in Peruvian history. Machu Picchu represents the Inca Empire at its height, and Vitcos and Espiritu Pampa embody Inca resistance to Spanish impe¬rialism. Bingham did not understand all that he saw, and there were many Peru¬vians who had seen these ruins before him, but his desire to understand them within the story of Spanish and Inca struggle is one of the more compelling acts in the history of exploration. His expedition paid attention to the lives of the humbler members of Inca society; the poor, and the transplanted. He was a man of his time, thoroughly bound by American piety, wealth, and colonialist attitudes towards the native peoples of Latin America. To ex¬plore and excavate, he took advantage of forced Indian labor. He was raised to believe that he is the hero of his life, and obscured the help he received from the many Peruvians who preceded him in the archives and mountains. He loved his discoveries so much that he had to possess their artifacts, losing himself in the moral jungle of that decision. Bingham sought exceptions as a white American and representative of Yale, then bent and broke Peruvian law when he didn't get special treatment. When confronted by his Peruvian collaborators, he quit academics, left Machu Picchu's artifacts at Yale, and went into politics, where he tripped once again. His high-profile expeditions raised Peruvian consciousness and criticisms of foreign ex¬ploitation of its history, unauthorized excavation and the smuggling of artifacts. In one expedition Bingham and his companion named Coot had dodged the famed stick-up artists Butch Cassidy and the Sun¬dance Kid near Bolivia. The two outlaws had robbed a cart carrying one silver mine's payroll the week before and Bolivian soldiers had cornered and shot both the bandits. When this happened, Bingham wrote the story down, not realizing its significance. Historians Anne Meadows and Daniel Buck, however, concluded that the two men were in fact Butch Cassidy and the Sun¬dance Kid. In a strange turn of events Bing¬ham bought one of their mules not realizing his brush with another pair of American legends. While Bingham gets the credit for the discovery of the lost city of Incas, but he is also accused of removing the archeological treasures of Peru in a clandestine fashion and many of them smuggled illegally into this country. The court battle between Yale and Peru is uncalled for; the treasures rightfully belong to Peru and Yale must return the archeological materials. 1. The Machu Picchu Guidebook: A Self-Guided Tour 2. Stone Offerings: Machu Picchu's Terraces of Enlightenment 3. Lost City: The Discovery of Machu Picchu 4. Machu Picchu: The story of the amazing Inkas and their city in the clouds (Wonders of the World Book)

it matters what Yale was like, for Hiram Bingham III.... because you cannot understand his desire to explore South America without understanding why he wished to join the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War. You cannot understand his academic pursuits without understanding his grandfather's successful book about Hawaii, or his father's translations. The context here is the story, and the story is told in this book wonderfully well. How did Hiram Bingham find Machu Picchu? The narrative weave takes you from Inca temples to Hawaiian missionaries, from penny dreadfuls to serious scholarship, from a lust for gold to questions about the disposition of artifacts. You are never lost, because the text is tight, the story compelling. One begins to think that THIS would make a better Indiana Jones movie, one with true and layered heroes who, yes, make great discoveries, but also who face true ethical dilemmas. And this book was a rip roaring good read. I recommend this highly.

I was interested in learning more about Hiram Bingham after watching an Anthony Bourdain No Reservations video on Peru where he took the train up to Machu Picchu named after Bingham. The author does a great job on Bingham, the city he found, and the controversy with Yale over many of the artifacts. I like this kind of history where there is a mix of secondard, primary, and personal narative. This is a good book and had some parts that I am looking forward to using in my classroom. A very interesting book about an interesting person and place.

Our culture has a habit of idealizing explorers - emphasizing their bravery, energy, intelligence, and determination. Christopher Heaney's story of Hiram Bingham's explorations in Peru, and his "discovery" of Machu Picchu and some other Peruvian locations which were critical in the history of the Incas, combines an appreciation for these traits but tempers this portrait of Bingham with the less savory aspects of first world explorers searching for artifacts in the third world. The book begins with the story of Bingham's childhood, and how the parents who raised him were adventurers themselves. However, they were missionaries and Bingham gradually moved away from religion as he became captivated by history and anthropology. His marriage to a woman from a wealthy family provided him with financial security for his family, freeing him to plan explorations, and his Yale experience gave him connections with wealthy families that would support his expeditions. The "treasures" Bingham sought in Peru were not the type you see in the movies - gold, silver, ornate chalices. He was seeking relics from the lives of the Incas. He went to Peru as a privileged American, who hired help and allowed those hires to essentially force locals into working for the expedition. On one trip the expedition's carelessness for its lower level workers apparently led to the death of one - who was just a boy. Many of the locals were suspicious of Bingham and given their history of subjugation and removal of precious metals by the Spaniards their fears were rational. Bingham's efforts yielded a collection of valuable relics and bones for Yale, and resulted in the people of Peru developing an appreciation for the history of their indigenous people. Some of the items discovered by Bingham remained in Peru, and the nation eventually developed Machu Picchu into an internationally known historic site drawing tourists and scholars. Bingham's work essentially gave Peru a record of its rich history and generated respect for the indigenous people who built Machu Picchu. Heaney also provides the reader with the ugly side of this story. In addition to the fact that many of the workers on his expendition were in essence indentured servants who had been forced to walk away from their farms and families, Bingham's actions were sometimes brazenly dishonest. When the Peruvian government tried to limit the artifacts that would be taken out of the country by Bingham, he secretly purchased many from a private collector snuck them out of the country. In addition, he and Yale refused to return artifacts that the Peruvian government believed were only on loan. The author's last chapter details the efforts the nation has made over the years to have these artifacts returned. This dispute is one of many going on around the world today - nations like Greece are seeking to have historic artifacts returned to them from some of the world's major museums. The issue is a difficult one - it can be argued that museums of international renown are ideal locations for some of these treasures to be available to scholars and tourists to see. However, holding these artifacts in the museums of the world's former plunderers and colonizers seems disrespectful. The author acknowledges these issues, but comes down firmly on the side of Peru in this case. I look forward to reading more of Heaney's work - he avoids the common traps of idealizing or villifying important historical figures, which is an approach readers deserve.

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Fascinating film. If you've ever wanted to know the real story behind the "Great Seal of the United States" this is for you. Mysticism, occultism and politics combine to create a symbol that is perplexing and mysterious. Chris Pinto has done another (See: America's Beginnings and Riddles in Stone)great job bringing experts together to tell the tale of Freemasonry and the influence on the US.

This is the third volume in series. It deals for the most part with the occult history surrounding Great Seal on the dollar bill. While there is lot of new information presented, some stuff you probably already know. For instance, even though the dollar bill says 'In God we trust', the question is: of which 'God/god' does it speak? Of course it is plainly evident that pyramid with an all-seeing eye is NOT a Christian symbol. So, the Christian origin of the seal is ruled out. Well, if you interested in this subject, and especially if you seen two previous films in the series, you might want to see this one as well. Of course, you will have to make your own judgment about the information presented. It may be true, partially true, or mostly false. I don't think I am qualified to say much in regard to the information presented, but some data is simply historical and deals with geography and specific people. For instance, a person still can visit a museum of Roerich, and they do affirm that Roerich had his part in designing a dollar bill. For instance, a person at museum said " ... to have that Mason symbol put on the dollar bill, so that every resident of the US is connected to Rorich through the dollar bill." So, there is no hidden conspiracy or anything about that. It is plain and simple. Generally speaking, it was informative even though I recognize that there is a room for dispute on some topics presented. I recommend you to take it with a grain of salt, but nevertheless to watch it (if this sort of material is of interest to you). good fight dot org is where you can find list of great videos

I haven't seen this DVD, but my book Eye of the Phoenix: Mysterious Visions and Secrets of the American Southwest (Adventures Unlimited Press, 2008) has been out for a year now. [...] It seems these people could have at least googled the title before releasing it.

Eye of the Phoenix gives information on the dollar bill that you will not find in any other documentary. Incredibly, this film refutes ideas that the symbols on our currency are not based in the occult, proving that they were put there by men who saw them as Satanic/Luciferian icons. I don't want to reveal too much, but this is proven beyond any doubt. FDR and his Secretary of Agriculture, Henry Wallace (both 32nd degree Freemasons at the time) surrounded themselves with a collection of Theosophists, Masons and Rosicrucians -- among whom was Russian mystic, Nicholas Roerich. Lots of info. on Roerich and his ecumenical paintings which were designed to introduce Eastern Mysticism to Western culture -- to promote universal archetypes that would inspire a global consciousness. The film also reveals how Roerich was the one who, as the "guru" to Henry Wallace, influenced the placement of the Great Seal on the back of the dollar bill. "Phoenix" is the third part in the documentary series, "Secret Mysteries of America's Beginnings" -- and many are saying this is the best of the three. This is partly because the film also addresses our current economic crisis, something predicted by researchers for years, long before anyone even knew who Barack Obama was. The film suggests that the symbolism of the eagle is really a cleverly disguised Phoenix, the ancient mythical bird that destroys itself by fire. Strong evidence is presented that this symbol implies the intentional destruction of the U.S. dollar by secret societies, who plan to use the collapse of our currency as an opportunity to create a global economy, in order to further the New World Order. Also fascinating is the research into the Stone of Destiny, a legendary artifact that Roerich claimed to have in his possession, and which Henry Wallace wrote about. In the occult, the stone is said to have come from the crown of the archangel Lucifer, and is supposed to empower world unity. Some occultists claim that Roerich gave part of the stone to the League of Nations for this purpose.

Either a skeptic or full-on believer will thouroughly enjoy this unique "history lesson". Not only does it reveal how our dollar bill came about, but it identifies all the key figures involved! Those included are some of the most famous of American history taught to us in grade school! On top of that, it reveals the true intentions of our politicians and those that influence America's policies, and takes it all the way to present time, to where our most powerful leaders intend to take us! Without a doubt, mind-blowing!!!! An absolute must-see for anyone who cares about our country and our future!

Reviews

Opening the Ark of the Covenant: The Secret Power of the Ancients, the Knights Templar Connection, And the Search for the Holy Grail by Frank Joseph and Laura Beaudoin is an excellent, fascinating and certainly thought provoking book. This should come as no surprise given the fact that co-author Frank Joseph is the editor of Ancient American magazine, and is the author of the books Atlantis Encyclopedia and Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America. This book has a timeline for the existence of the Ark of the Covenant and also some informed speculation about the Ark being in America. Another topic that this book covers well is the secrets of the Egyptian pyramids. This is a great reference work to have on hand.

I like some of Frank Joseph's books but this one has no merit. Merely a speculation without any solid fundation. If you want a good book about the true Ark of Covenant and its possible locations, read Randall Price book.

OPENING THE ARK OF THE COVENANT: THE SECRET POWER OF THE ANCIENTS, THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR CONNECTION, AND THE SEARCH FOR THE HOLY GRAIL will reach both new age and mainstream spirituality holdings, comes from the editor-in-chief of the popular science magazine Ancient America and a co-author with direct ancestors connected to the Crusader kings in the 12th and 13th centuries, and provides worldwide research into the Ark's disappearance which proves its facts. An engrossing analysis of Ark representations and documents evolves.

This book takes you from Atlantis to the Holy Grail and bloodline. A very interesting idea about a crystal formation that was the power source for the Ark of the Covenant and use in building the Pyramids. The crystal resonated just right over land areas that were in turmoil regularly because of eathquake or volcanic activity. This would allow humans to attain a euphoric or trance like state. The wise men, holy men, shamans of the world were the keepers of the secret of how these crystals worked. The path of the crystal starts in Lemuria (Atlantis) and passes to other areas of the world with the catastrophic demise of Atlantis. And if anything it was a fun read.

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Just started reading this book. But I just wanted to comment on the graphics. The illustrations are not that good in this version. I saw the 2003 version at borders ($25) and the graphics in that one is in color and is easier to see. I am purchasing the 2003 version for my library.

Having been disappointed with the first version I ordered (the other new, blue-covered edition from Wilder Publications) as the illustrations are so bad, I'm writing this review to save others wasting their money in a similar way. One can always return a book, but when it's shipped from another continent, it costs a fortune in postage. Both texts are identical of course, but this version also has an index at the back which the Wilder Publications version sadly lacks, which is very frustrating when trying to look up information. The pictures in this book are well-copied and every detail can be seen, which is important when the illustrations are under discussion in the text. Having said that, the paper used is not of a particularly high quality. In this single aspect, the version with the poor pictures wins with better paper, but it costs near $10 extra at the moment second-hand. As they say, you can't win 'em all.

originaly many volumes(so this is a this is a bit like cliff notes..but still thick as a brick in size and scope)-Hall wrote this when he was only 27..that alone will blow your mind. It is brilliantly dumbed down enough for anyone with an IQ over 110 to "GET IT".

Manly P. Hall, adept, sage, philosopher, Freemason, and intellectual, has given the world this amazing encyclopedic overview of the world's most important esoteric traditions and philosophical schools of thought. The reading is not light, but the reader will come away enlightened if they put the time into truly comprehending Mr. Hall's words - that is to say the teachings of antiquity. Anyone who wants an introduction to esoteric traditions need look no further. "Secret Teachings" is widely regarded as one of, if not the best books on the subject matter. Whether you decide to read it cover to cover or pick and choose from the dozens of chapters/subjects; purchase this tome and you will not be disappointed.

The book certainly has an exhaustive amount of data. However, I'll probably get the most out of it when I can have someone read it to me. The print is just too small for easy reading and makes what should be an enjoyable experience into a labor. I do not understand why the publishers present the text in such a hard format to read.

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This is one of my favorite books from childhood and my children in turn have enjoyed it. It includes the famous "Kintaro's Adventures" as well as "The Princess and the Herdboy" from which the Star festival (Tanabata) of Japan originates. The other four stories are just plain fun. Along with the other Tuttle Company books of Japanese children's stories, this would be a great addition to upper elementary classrooms.

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I ordered this book so I could read about the terracotta warriors prior to visiting the exhibit currently at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA. The other reviews are really what sold me on the book - especially the review by B. Evans. I ordered the book July 31 (Sunday) and paid for shipping so I could receive it prior to my museum visit August 7. I expected it to arrive the 6th but it arrived on the 4th! I was very pleased with the fast service. I was astounded when I saw the book. It surpassed the reviews by far. It's gorgeous! There's so much background information and the writing style is excellent and the photos are superb. If you have an opportunity to see an exhibit, please go! But first - buy this book! I'm so glad I'd read the background information (I skimmed a lot - there's a lot of information!) and looked at the very detailed photos prior to my visit. It made it so much more enjoyable (there's an audio guide and great written plaques at the museum but I liked knowing all that information beforehand). I also appreciate the photos even more now because the museum has low lighting and that makes a difference when you're over 50! Seeing the warriors in person is a great experience - but having this book is even better because the details are sharper and you get a vast amount of information. The exhibit had the 2 chariots with horses and so many of the warriors and animals that are featured in the book that you have your own museum tour right there in the book. I almost bought a book that featured a large fold-out of the warriors lined up in the pit. I saw that book in the museum and looked at the fold-out (and another fold-out was placed on the wall). The photography was inferior to the photography in this book. I looked at all the books the museum had and was thrilled with this book. It's really the best. So thank you to the first 3 reviewers! You sold me and I'm grateful! One thing no one mentioned was the quality of the paper in this book. That struck me immediately. It has very high quality, glossy paper which makes it easy to read and makes the photographs stand out. With tax and shipping, it came to $41.79 and is worth so much more than that.

I bought the book for the friend to give as a gift. I thought she had given it for Valentine's Day, but here's what she said when I asked her for a review: I didn't give it to him - I decided to wait til his b-day in Nov but yes, the book is excellent - exactly what he wants - the pictures are beyond excellent and extremely detailed - it's an excellent book!

I bought THE ETERNAL ARMY to learn more about its discovery, the reason for its creation, and above all, for its many incredibly stunning/revealing photographs. So closely are the soldiers shown, for example, that one can clearly see the different facial expressions of each. But I was even more amazed by how detailed and different the backs of their heads are, especially the ones with braided hair. And that each soldier's armor is made up of a myriad plates absolutely astonished me. In addition to the famous soldiers and bronze chariots (also shown in incredible detail), the camera treats the reader to close-ups of the chariot driver, archers, functuaries and the scantily clad figures now thought to perhaps be gymnasts or wrestlers "ready to engage in an exercise of martial arts." Shown too are many artifacts, such as bronze birds, that were found along with the army. But perhaps most mind-boggling of all are the photographs of finds yet to be reassembled, for they attest to how monumental the task has been to excavate and restore but a fraction of the emperor's army. Had the above, including the fascinating information about the army, been all that was in this book, I still would have gladly spent every dollar I did to purchase two copies. But much to my amazement, there was even more: approximately 90 pages of background about ancient China and the Qin empire--pages laced with stunning photographs of related artifacts and watercolors, pages so interesting that I learned much about a period that I'd had absolutely no interest in. And as an added bonus, the entire book is written in prose not the least bit pedantic. For these reasons, there are neither superlatives nor stars enough to convey how highly I recommend this book. --B. Evans, 12/11/07

The striking feature of this book is its inclusion of unusually large photos of close-ups of some individual soldiers. Two individual chariots, in addition, receive in-depth illustration of various aspects. If you really want to have a taste of what it feels when seeing as different each of the soldiers' faces, you will never be disappointed with this book in hand. Several historical incidents that happened in this period also attract elaboration from this book. How the Emperor burnt thousands of scholars and books in order to take control of people's mind, is something that is explained through a model of the scene by the authors. At the end of the book, the authors also explain how they, with the help of the Chinese officials, took the photos, with equipment weighing over 1000 pounds. In the middle of the book the authors also attempt to delineate the long tradition of the Chinese philosophical thought as expressed in different schools, that preceded the rule of the Emperor over the unified China, which lasted only for 15 years! While the discussion of the philosophical thoughts might not be deep enough, I guess the readers who are interested in this book would not count this as any issue. For overall each of the faces of the soldiers that feature in the photos already tell thousands of different stories, given the reader's own imagination. I would recommend this book as a highly collectible gem!

Reviews

The Silk Road has become to Xinjiang as the Great Wall is to China. The first foreigners to cross this important set of trade routes were kindly referred to as merchants but around the turn of the century another group of foreigners would step foot here and be labeled devils. The individual accounts of these daring explorers have long since been out of print but the tales of their adventures have been preserved in a book that makes Xinjiang's buried history as intriguing as a stroll along the Great Wall. Foreign Devils on the Silk Road is not a new book and its cover isn't flashy, but it still retains a prominent position on my bookshelf. At last I found a book based in Xinjiang that has nothing to do with ethnic tension or government policies, primarily because the People's Republic of China had not yet been founded. Peter Hopkirk, a Chief Reporter for the London Times for five years, leads his readers through the exploits of six primary explorers and archeologists... Read the rest of the review at: [...]

I'll keep it simple. I read the book and ended up in the Xingiang province visiting all the Buddhist Caves that Hopkirk so convincingly talks about. Art, adventure and geo-politics are the hallmark of this writing. I salute you Sir!

Seldom does one encounter history, politics, archaeology and high adventure combined in such an entertaining non-fiction book as "Foreign Devils on the Silk Road". For readers, such as myself, with only the slightest acquaintence with Central Asian exploration, this book provided an entry point into a whole new realm of fascinating narratives. I had not even finished the book before I found myself ordering Sven Hedin and Aurel Stein's original accounts while seeking out others. Hopkirk's overview of the intrigue and history behind these early explorations makes for a real page turner seldom matched in fiction. The opening comments from contemporary travelers concerning the abyss of desolation which is the Taklamakan at once repel and attract the reader to this forbidding zone. Like another reviewer, I found myself plotting some way to visit this terrifying landscape myself. Veteran desert trekkers' remarks concerning how tame the Sahara and Arabian deserts were in comparison to the Taklamakan seem to dare the reader to venture there. Even after reading Sven Hedin's excruciatingly detailed first hand account of his near fatal first expedition there, the allure grows more insistent. What Hopkirk does in "Foreign Devils" is to give a birds eye view of Central Asian exploration and place it into the perspective of the ebb and flow of empires in the tapestry of time. However, he does focus just enough on specific incidents to give this panoramic survey the flavor of high adventure typically found only in the adventurous imaginings of writers such as H. Rider Haggard, Talbot Mundy and Rudyard Kipling. Manhunts for murderers in the bazaars of obscure desert outposts, native spies disguised as wandering box wallahs and the quest for Hedin's stolen revolver are sprinkled throughout "Foreign Devils" giving a delightful penny dreadful spice to what could have easily been another dull recitation of historical facts. Hopkirk's inclusion of the many legends surrounding the haunted ruins of buried cities sets a mythical tone for the gritty adventures of real life explorers who came from the West to extract the secrets and treasures from the surreal setting of this post-apocalyptic landscape. Science fiction writers are hard pressed to match such a setting. Hedin confirms the stories of phantom voices heard in wasteland and men following siren apparitions to their doom in the dunes. By contrast, it was rather disappointing to read Aurel Stein's comment that he found no evidence of tales of overnight burial of the lost cities which Islamic clerics touted as some sort of divine retribution on the part of a displeased deity. While Hopkirk does not shy away from the ethical considerations of what would be considered unabashed looting in this politically correct present age, he does manage to avoid the sanctimonious sermonizing so often indulged by archaeological writers today. In this regard there are some sharp ironies to be found in the fate which befell some of these purloined treasures. While Stein's herculean efforts removed a great many documents and artworks from further ravages of the elements to the stately sanctuaries of London, Albert Le Coq placed his treasures at ground zero for the Allied firebombings of WWII in Germany. Such Appointments in Samarra underscore the sense of fated doom which lingers pervasively throughout the narratives. Anyone drawn to this book is guaranteed to be hooked on further reading in this fascinating subject and I have no hesitation in giving "Foreign Devils on the Silk Road" a solid five stars.

I have a fascination both with Central Asia and with "real life Indiana Jones", of the last days of the age of exploration. This book is about both. It describes the various journeys, intrigues and jealousies of the various explorers searching for artifacts. These were the days of the Heroic Age of Archeology when this science had not quite become systemitized and brave men acting on their own initiative were still part of it. Not necessarily heroic in the sense of virtuous-the reader can judge that. But certainly heroic in the sense of brave and daring. It also, inevitably touches the sore point of the "artifacts controversy". It is in essence another example of the old conflict between "finders-keepers", and "original owner". It is most certainly a sore point and has left resentments but again the reader can form his own opinions about such things. All that aside, the book makes a good read. It tells of interesting characters and their experiences discovering Lost Cities in the wilderness in long journeys and quests. It tells of how the memory of the forgotten Silk Road was rediscovered and how knowledge long hidden was rediscovered. It gives stories not only of the seekers but they great things they found. It is a story worth reading.

I am not aware of any scholar more equipped to write on Central Asia in the 19th and early 20th centuries than Peter Hopkirk, and happily his mastery of the sources is matched by his engaging writing style. This is a history of the European "discovery" of the old Silk Road archaeological treasures around the Taklamakan desert, in western China, between 1890 and 1930. The tale centers on the giants of Central Asian archaeology: Sven Hedin, Aurel Stein, Albert von Le Coq, Paul Pelliot and Langdon Warner. Hopkirk addresses each in turn, providing biographical information and historical background for their explorations and discoveries. He also provides a historical introduction to the western Chinese portion of the silk road so the discoveries can be appreciated for their worth. As with any Hopkirk book, the narrative moves quickly and is highlighted by fascinating stories of astounding success, crushing defeat, mischievous skulduggery, and the whole-sale theft of priceless artistic and literary treasures. This book is appropriate for college students, but is accessible enough for the casual reader, and I strongly recommend it to both.

Reviews

John Man has produced an excellent introduction to the Terra Cotta Army of China's first emperor in this excellent book entitled "The Terra Cotta Army." For those out there who have the opportunity to view some of these artifacts for the first time in 2010. Man characterizes the 1974 discovery of the terra cotta army as the outstanding archeological discovery of the 20th century because it changed the perceptions of the short-lived, but important Qin dynasty and who is prepared to argue. Probably only the discovery of the Gnostic gospels or the tomb of Tutankhamun would come close to providing greater insight into the ancient world. The first Qin emperor was also the first emperor of China who unified the kingdoms of Qin, Zhao, Yan, Qi, Wei, Chu, and Han between 221-206 BC and established his capital on the Wei river in the city of Xianyang. Perhaps the greatest achievement of the Qin emperor was the unification of China, albeit a China which consisted of what would be the eastern third of modern China. One real interesting narrative line n in the book is a discussion of the sources that are available on the Qin emperor. These are the histories of Sima Qian. These were written during the succeeding Han dynasty which really had no reason to promote the achievements of its predecessor. Sima Qian also appears to have used the Qin emperor (who was no sweetheart) as a means of expressing some of his anger at members of the Han dynasty (not an uncommon practice in the ancient world where literal truth always took a backseat to reader edification, Tacitus uses Tiberius to critique Domitian in the Annals). Along with the story of the Qin emperor and the machinations of the court, Man's exploration of Sima Qian, who is surely the Chinese Herodotus (though certainly not its Thucydides given his tendency to include the spiciest of stories no matter how improbable) In addition to the history, Man also provides a great deal of information on how the artifacts were discovered (peasants digging a well), their excavation and the subsequent construction of a world class museum in Xianyang. The book includes pictures, many in color showing what the terra cotta army would have looked like when it was originally deposited in the Qin emperor's tomb. They were a riot of color just like most of the ancient world. All of these details add up to outstanding insights into this fascinating discovery. I liked this book so much that when I discovered that Man had also written a book on China's other ancient landmark, the Great Wall, I immediately ordered it from Amazon. I am sure that if that book is only half as good as this one, it will be a delight.

John Man's book is a fun read. I purchased the book for my library to better understand The Terra Cotta Army and China's First Emperor (one of many books on China now in my library). Nonetheless this book was an essential read prior to my recent visit to the High Museum in Atlanta, GA to soak-up The Terra Cotta Army display. The book enhanced my initial impressions and understanding. It was worth every penny for the factual knowledge it imparted. The book provided geographic insight to the site of the First Emporor's tomb in Xian and the surrounding facilities. One of the more interesting aspects of the book was the account of the modern reproduction of the army in such a way as to give the book reader an cleaver idea of how the ancient Chinese may have produced such a wonder thousnads of years ago! The feat of the Terra Cotta Army production in ancient times combined with the vast unknown treasurers still to be explored are certainly mind-boggling! This book makes one think. Bottomline: Good book, fun read, provided insight.

Author John Man, whose books are reflective of someone in love with history, has given readers a real treat, in his well written book "The Terra Cotta Army: China's First Emperor and the Birth of a Nation". He presents a close-up and almost personal look at something which has intrigued the world since its discovery in 1974. Reading about the this historic discovery, with its life-size statues of warriors and horses, makes any armchair archaeologist feel like Indian Jones. It stirs the imagination of the reader. I consider any book a good read that allows me to continue my daydreaming about it long after having put the book down. This book will ignite that kind of inner adventure with readers! I found the accompanying photos to be a wonderful addition to the written accounting. After reading this book, I would now love to go see the real thing. John Man has a way of making history seem like a novel. He captures the most important elements of the facts and uses just enough verbiage to give you a a full understanding without drowning you in data and details like so many historians and writers do. This is a fun to read book and not a text book! This book , like all of John Man's books is a FIVE STAR Blockbuster! It is that good. Go buy a copy!

I had opportunity to attend the Terra Cotta Army exhibit at the Bower Museum, Santa Ana, California. I purchased this book on Amazon where it was discounted. Let me first comment that it might help if you read this book first before seeing the exhibit. The photographs are excellent and show much of what you will see at the exhibit. Unfortunately the text is rather uneven. On the positive side the beginning of the book, Part one which covers the discovery of the ARMY reads well as does the current state of restoration which ends the book as Part three. However, the history lesson in Part two of the book is dull and lifeless and it was my impression that Mr. Man just dictated and rambled through this section. When he devotes several pages to the film THE EMPEROR AND THE ASSASSIN or uses lines referencing the reader to having seen OFFICER AND GENTELMAN you know you're in for tour guide writing 101. I did learn a lot, and recommend the book mainly as a tour guide introduction to the exhibit traveling the US this year. Otherwise, buy it for the photographs and read Parts one and three.