5 comments about The Archimedes Codex: How a Medieval Prayer Book Is Revealing the True Genius of Antiquity's Greatest Scientist.

1. EVERYTHING that Archimedes is supposed to have "discovered" already existed in Africa, thousands of years before "WHITE" Greeks existed. The Ancient Egyptians "THE MASTER BUILDERS" had already discovered "ALL" of the Arts & Sciences. The Greeks & Romans were students of the Ancient Black Egyptians, before they destroyed the Egyptian Civilization by raping the women, killing the Priests, forbidding the speaking of the language & burning the Library of Alexandria. Ask yourself this question, if the Greeks were such Great Mathematicians why did they go all the way to Africa to set up this Library, and where are their Pyramids? Huh?
   
   Africa & Africans were the fountainhead of knowledge, at a time when the Whites had recently emerged from the Caves of & Hillsides of Europe, where they were walking on all fours and eating their meat raw, not having the knowledge of fire. Go back and read the ancient historical accounts by Herodotus, where he describes not only the Scientific Wonders of the Ancient Egyptians, but also describes their race as being of "Burnt Skin & Woolly Hair, & that they describe themselves as "THE" Most Ancient of Peoples.
   
   WHY ARE THERE NO ANCIENT RUINS IN WHITE CIVILIZATIONS BUILT BY WHITE PEOPLES? (Stonehenge and other monuments in Europe were built by Blacks who peopled what is called Europe millions of years before the first Whites arrived. Google "Grimaldi Negro", the first inhabitants of Europe. Also see "The Making of the White Man" by Paul Guthrie & "Black Spark, White Fire".
   
   THIS IS THE SAME TYPE OF RACIST LOGIC THAT POSITS THAT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DISCOVERED AMERICA, WHEN EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT BOTH INDIANS & BLACKS WERE HERE FIRST, BUILDING PYRAMID CIVILIZATIONS.
   
   For further edification read: "The African Origin of Civilization" by Cheik Anta Diop (Renowned Senegalese Physicist & Linguist), "Stolen Legacy" by George M. James (Greek Scholar) & "Black Athena" by Martin Bernal (which shows that Early Greece was peopled by two successive waves of African colonization who laid the foundation of both Minoan & Greek Civilization. Take a close look at the Minoans, they are of African stock, as were the early Greeks prior to the invasions of the Barbaric White Dorians, who brought no Civilizing influence to Greece.
   
   Racist White historical analysis cannot replace cold hard facts such as the Pyramid Civilizations appearing only in Black Civilizations such as Egypt, Mexico etc. The Pyramid culture in the Americas begins with the Thick Lipped, Broad Nosed, Wooly Haired Olmec Civilization, "THE MOTHER CIVILIZATION" of the Americas.
   
   FURTHERMORE, WHOSE TO SAY THAT ARCHIMEDES WAS WHITE, AS GREEK CIVILIZATION AT THAT TIME, HAD BLACKS AS WELL AS WHITES.
   
   Truth crushed to Earth will Rise Again!!!



2. There is a spectacular story here. It needed far better authors to tell it.
   
   The authors of this work, Reviel Netz and William Noel have an absolutely spectacular subject. Literally over two thousand years in the making. As many of the other reviews have noted, this book changes what we know about the history of mathematics and science. The problem is that the writing in this book is just weak and at times pedantic. It seems to skip around from subject to subject. With such an amazing subject, they should have done so much more - or gotton someone who could. Just take a look at Mark Kurlansky's "Salt: A World History" or "Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World." Two of perhaps the most boring subjects, and yet Kurlansky makes the stories of their history come alive. Here we have opposite: a story that should leap off the page without the quality of writing needed to make it happen.



3. The format chosen by the two authors of this book is that they each wrote alternating chapters. One author, a curator of manuscripts and rare books wrote the chapters mainly dealing with the nature of manuscripts and codices, the organization of the project, the objectives at hand, the logistics, the methods used, the technology, etc. The other author, a professor of ancient sciences, concentrated mainly on the reading, deciphering and mathematical interpretation of the ancient writings and their meaning in terms of what we know about Archimedes. Although alternating chapters have different focuses, they blend easily one into the other without any significant discontinuity. Both writing styles are clear, friendly and authoritative. The mathematical expositions are generally accessible, although in some cases the terminology used is more of an ancient style than what one would find in a modern mathematics textbook; as a result, some arguments are difficult to follow. I have learned much from this book: about Archimedes' accomplishments, about ancient manuscripts and codices, about methods and apparatuses used to image ancient texts and about the incredible complexity of the whole project. It is difficult to estimate which types of readers would be most interested in this book since it contains so much that could be of interest to different people, i.e., ancient and medieval history, history of mathematics, modern technology, physics, detective work, etc. But, it is likely that readers interested in any of the above subjects would enjoy it.



4. I honestly never felt particularly inclined to read a book on math let alone pick one up after college - however, I do love a good mystery story. It took the brilliant work of two authors, each writing alternating chapters, to fully captivate me enough to read this wonderful book "The Archimedes Codex"! I am so glad I did; I would have missed something very special. This is not just a math book or a science book or a history book - it is a book of mysteries and so much more.
   
   The book not only is a work of great research and details it also reaches out to grab that part of your higher self that longs for more understanding. The story about how this ancient information is saved and passed on through history and how it is discovered and restored is a most fascinating tale. The scientific and mathematical genius of Archimedes is fully evident. To be honest, as a non-math major in college, there were some parts of this book that I was not fully able to grasp the bigger meanings - but this story is presented in such a way by the authors, that this made no difference. I did understand the enormity of what these finding were.
   
   Entertaining, yet educational and inspiring work! Reading this book actually encourages a part of me to go back to college and take a few higher math classes. This book made math exciting! This story will fully engage the reader. I think a good novelist could turn this true story into a wondrous tale; it has all the elements of a great story!
   
   I fully recommend this FIVE STAR BOOK for all those with a curious mind and a love of real life mysteries.



5. To appreciate this book fully, you need to have some interest in the history of mathematics or early theoretical physics, as well as enjoy learning how a multidisciplinary team of conservationists, imaging and computer geeks, film makers, the CIA, Greek Mathematics translators all worked to unravel the mystery of a lost but rediscovered codex containing some of Archimedes' most brilliant material.
   
   Unfortunately the Codex is a palimpsest - medieval monks scraped off the Greek from Archimedes texts and wrote prayers on it after rebinding it in the other direction.
   
   Archimedes, Newton and Gauss are usually listed as the three greatest mathematicians (though Euler and a few others are up there as well). If you have not been exposed to Archimedes before, this book will give you an idea of why he is among the greats since he was so ahead of his own time and his results anticipate the calculus and mathematical physics.

3 comments about Lincoln Cents Fo Starting 1975 (Official Whitman Coin Folder).

1. This folder is an excellent starting point for any new coin collector. The folder has a nice lock-in feature preventing the coins from falling out. The recent dates ensure that the folder can be filled without too much difficulty from simply rooting through pocket change regularly. Highly recommended for young people who wish to start a coin collection.



2. I was given this book by my dad when I was little...it got me interested in coin collecting and is inexpensive! I would recommend it as a gift for kids or adults...it makes a fun hobby!



3. As a child, my Grandfather collected pennies for each of his Grandchildren. As an adult, I am still collecting. The Whitman folders were good enough then, and they are certainly good enough now. Easy to insert coins, yet tight enough to hold them for many years.

5 comments about Official Whitman Statehood Quarters Folder: Complete 50 State Set 1999-2008.

1. I was disappointed in the cost and the size of this product. I could have gotten a better and larger unit for less money from my local bank.



2. It was a nice product. The only thing that I didn't like was that it was difficult to insert the quarters.



3. No need for anything more expensive, as this item fulfilled my desires for saving the State quarters just fine and completely.



4. Good Value. Need to be handle it carefully to prevent the panels from coming apart. However, Elmer's Glue solved that problem (I think permanently).



5. I just wanted a quarter that would fit each state, regardless of mint location which this folder does. However, I found this folder to be of poor quality. The first two pages fit the quarters fine, but I could not get the quarters to fit in the later coin slots (2007-2008).
   
   I just bought the Littleton quarter folder because of the excellent reviews I saw online and I'm very pleased with the purchase - The quarters fit great in the slots and the book cost less than this one. I threw out this folder.

5 comments about The Arts of the Sailor: Knotting, Splicing and Ropework.

1. This is an excellent resource book and we will use it a lot....



2. A great book chock full of interesting ideas to make your boat more seamanlike. The definative rope working book.



3. This book has some of the most clearly articulated and illustrated instructions I have ever encountered.



4. A generally informative book, but.....
   some of the directions refer to diagrams with arrows showing the direction of the rope. No such arrows!
   Overall fair to good diagrams and interesting history, but I think I would have bought a different book had I known what was missing.



5. I bought this for my son - he just purchased his first sailboat. He loved the info and that it is such a compact size - he can keep it on the boat for quick reference. Though not as complete as "The Ashley Book of Knots" it does cover the basics. Great for beginners!

5 comments about It's a Wonderful Christmas: The Best of the Holidays 1940-1965.

1. This book was an incredible walk down Memory Lane! I couldn't put it down. For all those reminiscing and hungry for "how it used to be" I highly recommend this book!



2. This book brings back memories of Christmas past. It is informative and entertaining. I gave this as a gift to four different people and got a copy for myself.



3. This is a great book!! The stories are a wonderful collection for anyone who was a child OR adult during this time frame. If not read it anyway, it's very enjoyable to read. I took this book on a flight to Denver and had many people as me where I got it.



4. I bought this book last year and again this year sat down to enjoy the wonderful photos. It brought back wonderful memories of a time before consumer advocacy when we used lead and fiber glass all over our homes, and especially during the holidays when we pulled out the painted ornaments (and ashtrays and candy dishes and ceramic figurines of Santa and the Baby Jesus) and angel hair for the tree. I can still feel the itching as I write this :-)
   
   I highly recommend this book for anyone who remembers Christmas anywhere between 1940 and 1965. It brought back some lovely memories (aside from the itching).



5. I bought this book for my mom (81 years old), and it brought back amazing memories for her from her teenage years through the first 20 years of her marriage. The package of ornaments shown on page 11 is the identical one my parents had bought (which we still have - most of them, anyway!). She (and I) enjoyed it so much, I also got copies for my aunt and a family friend of the same age as my mom. They both loved the book, and talked of all the memories it brought back for them, as well. It's a fun book that wil bring back memories for anyone who lived through those years.

5 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia of Depression Glass.

1. Best book out there for dealers of depression glass, but they forgot a usable index or table of contents. To make matters worse, some patterns are alphabetized as No. ###. No index of alternate names (some patterns have 3 or 4 commonly used names). The table of contents is the same as the alphabetical listing by page, totally useless. The official company name is the pattern name it is ordered under, regardless of the popularity of other names.
   
   Pictures are great. Many prices have been reduced in this 2007 version, bringing pricing into line with what you should pay/charge. Common pieces (cups, small plates, etc.) can be got on eBay for about 1/2, but more in demand pieces (cereal bowls, dinner plates, serving pieces, tumblers) go for just about what is in the book. Verbiage for patterns normally indicates the marketability of the pattern, but wish there was a prominent "popularity score" above each color the pattern comes in. Some colors in some patterns have absolutely no buyers, which is an extremely valuable piece of information. Would recommend using --,-,+,++.
   
   They use a purist definition of depression, so you'll have to also buy the 40s 50s 60s book to complete your reference of what is commonly known as depression glass. There are pictures for about 1/2 of the pieces available, and generally a larger closeup for pattern identification. Success of pattern identification is probably 95% (best we've seen).



2. A must have book for begining collectors of depression glass -- good pricing - if you don't buy on e-bay - if you go to the glass shows gives you fair prices for most items -- e-bay buyers - GOOD LUCK, most everything is WAY, way over the value of the item you want.



3. anyone interested in finding out what they have or what to look for, as far as depression glass or collectible glass, Gene Florance is the person to look for. I've got most editions of his books. and my parents also swore by his books. every edition has a little something extra, different or new. easy to follow and excellent pictures!



4. VERY HAPPY WITH THE DETAILS AND INFORMATION ABOUT DEPRESSION GLASS. I HAVE ABOUT 300 PIECES AND AM NOW ABLE TO IDENTIFY MORE OF MY COLLECTION.



5. I have really enjoyed this book. I work in a consignment shop and we get a lot of antique glass - It has helped us a lot with pricing it too!

5 comments about Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson).

1. Best, most useful reference text I've seen on the subject. A very valuable reference for the collector. Very well done. Couldn't be more pleased.



2. As a firearms dealer there is a need for referenca materials that I can use & depend on, both for my business & as a service to my customers. This is the BEST S&W book I have come across.



3. This is a great book to get familiar with all the different models of S&W revolvers. I needed a book that would help me identify different revolvers and this book is the one. I believe this book will help anyone looking to broaden their knowledge of S&W firearms. What I like about this book is the color photos and detailed descriptions of each model. This book should be in every gun enthusiast's library.



4. Excellent resource for the S&W collector. Very comprehensive, quality pictures, great read. The type of book you get lost in for a few hours!



5. If you have any interest in Smith & Wesson firearms, this is a must have. Tons of information on pistols, rifles, shotguns and other items made by S&W.

No comments about Wristwatch Annual 2009: The Catalog of Producers, Prices, Models, and Specifications (Wristwatch Annual).

5 comments about Kovels' Antiques & Collectibles Price List 2008: The Bestselling Price Guide in America- 40th Anniversary Edition (Kovels' Antiques and Collectibles Price List).

1. The Kovel's book is by far the most detailed, entertaining and informative price book I have ever owned. It helps us sellers and buyers and on line shoppers understand real-time market values. I like that it is based on ACTUAL prices. ( after all things are really only worth what someone will pay). It helped me identify things that I was unsure of with some really clear four-color photographs.
   The book is packed with TONS of pictures! It also is easy to find things and the Kovel's seem to have a knack to know how to organize such a large group of potential categories. Overall, this book was worth every penny in terms of showing me what things are worth and what they are. No other place I have found that can do both so well.



2. For information on a wide variety of antiques or collectibles, it's almost as good as Warman's. But, really, I like having both books available for use. I've found, however, that if I know what I'm interested in, I'm better off spending the money and getting a book specific to that antique or collectible (if there's one available.) Nevertheless, a good reference book to get someone started in collecting. Prices listed vary greatly from what one finds on internet market; you need to be aware of this with some antiques or collectibles.



3. This is a nice reference book. Not as complete as I wished. Sometimes difficult to find specific items. However, it is solid and full of information. A nice reference to add to your collection.



4. Really enjoyed thumbing through this book. Helped answer questions I've had for years regarding potential "treasures". Easy to use with lots of pictures.



5. Thick book, good intro to antiques presenting a smattering of what's considered collectable but spreads itself too thin with some categories and is short on depth. Lots of pics but not the ones I was looking for.

5 comments about Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide 2008 (Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide).

1. This book essentially is a Beckett PLUS (which comes out every 2 months) with more details (such as every card in each set is listed). There aren't really any oddball sets priced, which I guess is what the Beckett Baseball Almanac is for. Overall the book is very useful since it gives complete checklists and some extra details about each set. I just wish more oddball sets were listed so I wouldn't have to buy the Almanac book as well.



2. I have bought Becket Guides before and this has information that you get for free. There is no pricing for Classic, Collectors or another words 1/2 the companies out there. Then in the companies that they show 1/2 the subset are missing A GREAT BIG RIP OFF!!!!!!!!!!!



3. This is a good product for the collector or dealer that that is interested in mainstream issues and the more widely known limited distribution sets.However if your interests are more ecclectic and you like the more obscure and less traded or sold products....forget it. For those people I suggest Sports Collectors Digest Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards.This is equally true of Becketts Price Guides for Football and Basketball.In short if you stick with Topps and the other nationally distributed sets Beckett is OK.If you are looking for regional or otherwise limited production products your wasting your time; SCD is MY choice.



4. I collected baseball cards in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a kid, mostly Topps. I re-opened my card collection in March 2008 after 35 years in the attic. The book doesn't doesn't have any logic or organization to it, and makes no sense. For example, if you're looking to price your Topps cards (as I suspect most people are), 1973, for example, you have to look under "1951 Topps Blue Backs" in the table of contents - bizarre. And good luck finding the table of contents sandwiched between more than 10 pages of advertisements. in the "How to Use this Book" section it starts "isn't this great" then continues, "every year this book gets better." Almost nothing on how to use the book.



5. My son and the neighbors boys have not stopped looking up the
   value of their precious collectibles. It is easy to use. Some of their cards are worth 7 cents and some several hundred dollars. They are having a blast with it. My husband is enjoying it too. He is now lamenting losing one of his old Mickey Mantle cards.
   I highly recommend it for your baseball card collectors, young or old.