5 comments about The End of Days: Armageddon and Prophecies of the Return (The Earth Chronicles).

1. total bull Krap
   
   book is boring.
   no start no ending no conclusion
   
   looks like the writer is lost in his own dreams..
   no proof or observations for what he says.
   
   plus if you havent read the egyptian bible the christan bible and the jewish bible by heart and remember everyline of it.
   
   
   you wont understand a damn thing..
   
   
   i woundlnt give any stars to it.
   but one is minimum
   
   thats what you get.
   
   wana read some good book
   
   
   try : beyond ufo's or the giza power plant.



2. FRAUD is a punishable criminal offense under all criminal codes and statues in this country,yet sitchen is a free man...is there no justice in the world?...He has committed fraud with his "EARTH CHRONICALS" series and what is really disturbing to me is,not his writing, but how many people believe this crap as if it is the truth....There is no Nibiru and the ANNANUKI are not gods...This whole story is just sad



3. Some readers wonder why they thoroughly believe everything Sitchin lulls them to believe is real, while they also wonder why there is no index, bibliography or source references in his works. Why? Because these books are NOT FACT! They are cleverly wrought fiction, that is why. Even if we are prepared to forget that just because we desperately need a mythos that we can believe in as real.
   
   Knowledge, cultural, rites, religious, civilizational bounties of Sumeria, Ancient Persia and Mesopotamia have been almost obliterated from the annals of easily discoverable Western scholarship, so someone like Sitchin can come along and invent the background and civilizational connections for us. He uses research of Samuel Noah Kramer, for example, who really did try -- and did a pretty good job at -- translating Sumerian cuneiform (and he has references in the back of his scholarly works. One thing that was discovered in the real Sumerian translations is that the Book Of Solomon from the Old Testament is a steal of the Songs of Inanna to her shepherd lover Dumuzi (aka Tammuz), that's right, not Hebrew, but Mesopotamian. It is time we discovered some true love again a little East of Jerusalem. It certainly needs to be remembered.
   
   Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory, where are you now just when we need you? (Yes, she's Greek, sadly I don't know the Sumerian equivalent. Although I would bet that the Sumerian "Me" that is retained all the way through the Epics of Gilgamesh to the later Babylonian translations, linguistically are connected to Mne-monsyne, Memory. That's right the "Me" may not be an extraterrestrial computer or device, but something mne-monic, that is, a psychotechnology of remembrance--of always re-me-mbering who one is and where one ultimately springs from -- the stars, yes, dear being, the stars. Written on Ishtar's girdle and about the crown of the head. These memories are not Western, though we desperately feed upon them.)
   
   Our solipsistic heritage still holds us back from embracing more of the world, and, I might add, being humbled by it, instead of merely following imaginative predilections based on our cultural conditioning. These, Sitchin largely serves and gives us reasons to nod and go back to sleep. For this, while relishing books of myth, history and reconstructions of the past, I keep clanging up against Sitchin's very focused, deliberate channelling of what he wants us to see and believe. Full marks to his intent, if you like to be led. There are others that truly must begin to see outside his square. Remember, no references cited because he is a lord of INVENTION, not an archeologist of fact. Then rest easy.



4. Don't let the bad publicity against Mr. Sitchin influence your mind.
   Many jealous people and especially failed writers hate him.
   We all understand that.
   There is a person in America who asked the authorities to put him in jail.
   Crazy!
   Only in America people massacre others with dirty words,
   personality assassination and personal hatred. What they do?
   They are incapable of writing successful books
   so they began to throw dirt from their mouth
   and snake-style criticism.
   
   Mr. Sitchin is a remarkable writer.
   
   Respected all over the world.
   
   I collect all his books.
   
   S. Mahdi, Cairo, Egypt.



5. Having read several of Sitchin's books before I read this one, I am amazed and so grateful that he has put all the elements of his work together into this one beautiful summary. Since the whole is greater than the parts, the book just brings our comprehension up to a new level. To my way of thinking, one cannot understand modern Middle Eastern politics without reading this book. In my own book, I praise Sitchin for his wonderful contributions to our knowledge of early world history.Seraphim Blueprint: The Power of Angel Healing

5 comments about Rocket Boys (The Coalwood Series #1).

1. I bought this book and the audio tapes and my son and I listened and read this amazing book together. Our plan was to read for 30 minutes a night...however it was sooooooo good we listened and read for 5 hours!
   
   We are now going to rent the movie that was made from the film! All systems go....we enjoyed the adventure!



2. I was a little disappointed by the ending and the fact that Homer Hickam gave John Kennedy the idea to go to the Moon but other than that I couldn't help but root for the band of misfits.



3. ... "On June 4, 1960, the Big Creek Missile Agency, fresh from its medal winning performance at the National Science Fair, is sponsoring a day of rocket launches at its Cape Coalwood range. Everyone reading these words is invited..." This quote can be found on page 356-357 of a book called Rocket Boys; this statement showed me that the success of the main characters was a result of personal hard work and teamwork.
   
   "Rocket Boys" by Homer H. Hickam, Jr. is a nonfiction account of a group of friends from Coalwood, West Virginia in the early 1960's who have a fetish for making rockets. Homer and his friends have a dream to shoot a rocket up into the clouds. This story gives the reader a message that dreams really can come true.
   
   Rocket Boys is one of the strongest books I have ever read. The author accomplished his goals to tell people that team work is one of the most important things to know in your life. This book is recommended for people that like space and rockets and who want a hopeful book to read. Reading Rocket Boys really gets you thinking about team work and how far you can get with it.



4. Homer Hickam grew up in a rural isolated mountain town but went on to win the National Science Fair.
   
   This book is his story and how he was successful.
   
   I bought 24 copies of this book to inspire my advanced 6th grade Reading class. They loved the book. In our discussions they mentioned never giving up. Homer and his friends kept trying until they had success.
   
   Thank you for sharing your life with us, Mr. Hickam.



5. Was purchased due to a requirement by my childs school. He has informed me it is a good book.

5 comments about Behold a Pale Horse.

1. I first bought this book without having any idea of what it was about, but I just intuitively knew (after flipping through it's chapters) that there was at least SOME truth to be found in it. I knew that this was new territory for me, and was excited to be finally learning something brand new and relevant. By the time I had read the Introduction, Foreward, and Chapter 1 (Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars), my old belief system about politics was shattered. Thankfully beginning to be shattered rather. At that point I tried moving into Chapter 2 (Secret Societies and the New World Order) but it seemed to be in a language I just couldn't possibly grasp. So in that sense I might recommend that the novices and uninitiates among you read up to the end of chapter 1, and then head into some other books along the same lines but with more of an introductory quality. I'd recommend the following sequence of books to be read inbetween chapter 1 and chapter 2 of Behold a Pale Horse:
   
   Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins
   Lucifer Dethroned by William and Sharon Schnoebelen
   Secret Societies and Psychological Warfare by Michael Hoffman
   Rule By Secrecy by Jim Marrs
   Mind Control, World Control by Jim Keith
   Programmed to Kill by David McGowan
   The Carnivals of Life and Death by James Shelby Downard
   The End of America by Naomi Wolf
   
   So that's what I personally have done, I've read all of those titles and have seen most of Alex Jone's movies (Endgame, Terrorstorm, etc.), Dr. Deagle's 5-hour lecture, Lindsey William's Energy Non-Crisis Lecture, the movie "Esoteric Agenda", etc.(I've found the list just goes on and on, heh)etc. Anyway, after becoming very fluid in the twilight language of the Illuminati, and all the buzzwords, I feel much more informed and human actually. Stil now I find myself returning to this book, Behold A Pale Horse, over and over again. Not only did it "have some truth in there", I haven't hardly found one thing I can prove to be false. I'm absolutely stunned that Bill was warning Americans about FEMA camps and Rex-84 (which is the talk all acrost the country now of course) way back in 1991! William Cooper is obviously way ahead of his time with this one, and perhaps more credible a resource than any whistleblower's name known to me. And as another reviewer said, the fact that he was martyred for the cause, along with Phil Schneider, Malachi Martin, Arnold Ehret, etc. ad infinitum, only adds credibility that he really was indeed a patriotic whistleblower with inside information he felt he could no longer hide from public view.
   One last note: Recent studies have shown that Americans are in fact the dumbest people on the planet, I know that bothers a lot of you, but we must look Truth in the face no matter what time it knocks on our doors. Indeed, the test scores prove it. Another study has shown that 20% of Americans cannot even find the USA on a world map, those 20% of Americans are the people Rush Limbaugh "speaks" to. According to the "bell curve", the other 60% or so are just going about the dizzying break-neck pace of their lives working 50+hour weeks, and therefore have very little time for introspection or musings on who the puppetmasters are behind the scenes, and what their plans might really be for humanity. So those people are unfortunately lost in the comfy and temping-to-buy-into-illusion of thinking that there's some kind of football game being played by the "right and left". The other 20% or so are the type to realize that William Cooper is telling the truth, and I think you will find that these will be the people in life who have cultivated their minds AND (perhaps more importantly) their hearts. The people in life who are: a) living Spiritual lives, AND, b) knowledgable about the NWO and/or the pedophocratic corporatocracy, I state that these are the people who are closest to the genuine Truth in Life, in It's Essence. "Where JUSTICE is, there I AM". One cannot be very spiritual if they don't at least grasp the powers that be, please know the enemy so that you can better guard against It. Bill, rest in peace my friend. Also, May the Creator of All-That-Is Bless You All.



2. This work published by THE foremost international authority on black ops, secret societies, the secret government etc. (who was assassinated for his efforts) is the seminal tract in this area. For those who want to know, for those who want to know more, this book is virtually the bible of all affairs clandestine. Excellent bibliographies throughout provide many jumping-off points for reading excursions further afield.



3. This book sort of ties together many strange conspiracy theories under the general umbrella of the 'New World Order'.
   
   The outrageous claims include:
   
   1. The government created the AIDS virus to kill homosexuals and minorities and the Vatican was instrumental in distributing the virus world wide hidden in vaccines.
   
   2. The Galileo space probe contained 50 pounds of plutonium and when the spacecraft was crashed into Jupiter in 1999 the plan was for the plutonium to cause the entire planet to explode and become a second sun. This new 'Lucifer' star would be interpreted as a sign that the New World Order was beginnning. As far as I know that didn't happen. This is where authors like this get into trouble when they make specific predictions with dates.
   
   3. The United States has been under a state of martial law since Abraham Lincoln was president.
   
   4. The Jews have been conspiring to take over the world since the 1800s.
   
   5. It was really the limousine driver who fired the fatal head shot during the Kennedy assassination and the Zapruder film clearly proves this. When the author found out about this 'top secret' information he went AWOL from the army.
   
   6. Aliens are using religion, satanism, and the occult to control the world.
   
   The members of the Illuminati include:
   
   1. the Pope and other Vatican officials
   
   2. extraterrestrial beings
   
   3. various government agents and agencies
   
   4. members of secret societies such as the Freemasons
   
   5. other wealthy and powerful individuals
   
   He criticizes well known and respected UFO invesigators such as Stanton Friedman and Budd Hopkins. He says they are CIA agents and they tried to trick him by telling him the secret code words that only the CIA knows.
   
   He also criticizes the leader of the satanic Church Of Set who was serving in the military at the time the book was written. For all we know that guy is Set himself. People don't create a satanic church for no reason.
   
   He says a mysterious black limousine forced his car off the road on two different occasions and during the second accident he lost his leg. After one of these car crashes they 'left him for dead'.
   
   But agencies like the CIA don't leave people for dead. If they want to kill someone they will.
   
   To me this is the handbook for all of those fearful, suspicious, angry, disillusioned, and bitter people who need a reason to overthrow the government. I wouldn't be surprised if people like Timothy McVey read this book before they blew up that building in Oaklahoma City.
   
   That's not to say there aren't real conspiracies and great mysteries out there. There are.
   
   I skipped / didn't finish reading some sections of this book:
   
   1. I only read the beginning of an alternative version of the U.S. Constitution.
   
   2. I only read the beginning of a very insidious document that supposedly shows how the Jews have been conspiring against the entire world for hundreds of years. This is like a Jewish version of 'Mein Kampf'.
   
   3. Some articles and documents appear to have been directly photocopied into the book and in their original form the text is basically unreadable.
   
   Jeff Marzano
   
   The Men Who Killed Kennedy
   
   Men Who Killed Kennedy
   
   Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction?
   
   The Truth About The Philadelphia Experiment
   
   Occult Ether Physics: Tesla's Hidden Space Propulsion System and the Conspiracy to Conceal It (2nd Revised Edition)



4. The author of this book, William Cooper, is so outraged at the subversion of the US governmment that he gets a little rough, approaching the boundaries of extremism.
   
   The more valuable treasure to be mined from this study is the information on the secret societies. I doubt not a word of it and he is right on the money with his assertion that the CFR runs the US government.
   
   If you can read this book and focus only on the chapters dealing with the secret societies, the population control techniques, the continuity of government plans in the Reagan administration, George H.W. Bush, and the mindless masses, you will have recieved your money's worth.
   
   Stay away from the UFO chapters. They are obviously misinformation that Cooper inadvertantly picked up in his source documents, meant to discredit anyone who lifts the secret docs. (The reason why we discount the UFO stories is simply because, unlike the above topics, there just isn't enough corroborating evidence friendly to common sense.)
   
   All of us should be outraged at this subversion of our democracy. Your best recourse is to get informed. Read other books about the secret/invisible government, CFR, and related elitist-type books. You may even find that 9/11 had nothing to do with...Arabs...



5. First off let me state that im a conspiracy fan myself. i am a major believer in the 9/11 truth movement and am not a so called "DE-BUNKER" in any way and while cooper talks about things i do think are real like the JFK assassination conspiracy, the coming police state and the NWO i just cant recommend this book. Most of his supposed sources are from other conspiracy books but what really made me just put the book down is when he said his source for a supposed secret oath into the Vatican's secret order couldn't be revealed or the person who took it either. sources are the most important thing in journalism, if you don't have your who, what, were, when and why down you have no credibility and your writing turns instantly into opinion, and thats precisely what this book is, opinion. Aside from that half and i mean almost half the book is just photo copied with text so small its hard to read along with News articles and supposed government documents most of which are nothing more than memos.....sorry not interested in reading a US military memo. he throws in some blurry pictures that are UFO's (again there are better books on the subject) and throws in the Ariel shot of Area 51 which most people have seen a 1,00 times. Cooper goes on to make allegations of secret government aircraft and all that other stuff that separates mainstream conspiracy people from the tin foil hat crowd. Look If your looking to get into conspiracies turn somewhere else and save your money, i wish i had.

5 comments about The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory.

1. I am an engineer by education and experience. Like many engineers I am fascinated with the subject of quantum mechanics, superstrings, hidden dimensions, the quest for the theory of everything, parallel universes and more. Much of it isn't easy to understand, but it sure is fun!
   
   For years I had been hearing about superstrings. I have read In Search of Schrödinger's Cat, Schrödinger's Kittens, books on Einstein's theories, and more. I have also read articles on these subjects, watched several amazing TV shows and movies. Some teased the idea of superstrings, but I never came away with a feeling that the concept had been explained properly.
   
   Brian Green's book the Elegant Universe, and the subsequent PBS show does just that! It gives the best explanation of superstrings I have read (and seen) to date. Green also does a great job explaining parallel universes, hidden dimensions, quest for the ultimate theory and more.
   
   The subject matter in the Elegant Universe is tricky to explain. Green has to do a balancing act to present the concepts in a way that are easy enough for the educated layman to understand, but complex enough to preserve their richness.
   
   Fortunately, Green does an exceptional job at presenting the material. And, he does it with great insight, passion and humor!
   
   My head hurt when he talked about some of the concepts such as 12 dimensions instead of the 4 we know about...but it was a good hurt. Overall a fantastic book and PBS show!
   
   The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking



2. It is interesting to consider that the subject matter for this book essentially concerns only the last one hundred years or so of human history, ever since the time of Einstein's work, and that by way of comparison it only goes back to the time of Isaac Newton. Prior to Newton's day, the physical laws of the universe were understood almost exclusively in terms of the religious and allegorical. Only very recently in human history has there occurred this intense kind of scientific study, which the author describes here. Of course, the actual work involves a mathematics that is quite complicated, but the author has done a good job in telling the story in layman's terms. A few of the analogies are probably not the best in the world, but I found the book to be excellent reading, especially about how string theory developed, and only really stumbled in chapter 10, the one on quantum geometry.
   
   While relativity and quantum mechanics are notable for being counterintuitive, string theory is especially interesting in that it fills in the gaps (it accounts for gravity in the way the other theories do not), and provides a more intuitive basis. It makes sense to think of the most basic element of the universe as a vibrating string, certainly much more so than as a point particle. I think of a vibrating string as being a nexus between energy and the most fundamental kind of matter. It makes more sense to think that energy comes before matter rather than matter before energy.
   
   Although the author does not directly deal with the question, it seems that he posits that string theory is an explanation of a self-contained universe. In the instances in which the fabric of space is torn, he explains that string theory provides a way for space to be mended. If the universe contracts back to the time of the big bang, it will not go back to nothing but rather to a "big crunch". Even the multiple dimensions of the theory, which lead one to think of another universe, have the sense of being on this side of the known universe. The biggest question that I could see concerns how string theory explains black holes. Is information lost in a black hole? The author seems to be on the side of those who don't think so, but concedes that there is no way to know at this point.



3. Fun stuff and all, especially for the first half when he shows an amazing ability to explain complicated concepts in a way that you can understand. Holy crap, I finally get what Einstein was banging on about with all those Special Theories!
   
   But after a while it gets into the kind of territory where he's gotta say "And then there are ten dimensions and the reason why is a whole bunch of math that you won't understand, so take my word for it." It's not his fault; at a certain point, there's just no way to describe things without insanely complex math. I do take his word for it - that's no problem - but still, that doesn't exactly help me understand it intuitively.
   
   But anyway, I guess there are all these dimensions and stuff. So that's...pretty cool.



4. Brian Greene provides an excellent introduction to the topic of superstring theory, its history and evolution; its current status, achievements and obstacles; and its areas of focus for future study. The book is written for the layman, in a style that is honest, clear and concise, using numerous real-world examples to explain the basic theories, and excludes mathematical explanations as much as is possible. The early chapters on special relativity, general relativity, quantum mechanics, and quantum electrodynamics are brief and superficial and serve more as historical backgound to the main focus of the book which is superstring theory. Consequently, the book is somewhat biased in that it does not look at alternative views of the nature of the universe, on the assumption that superstring theory may eventually prove to be the theory of everything. This is because the primary goal of superstring theory is to combine general relativity (theory of the very large) and quantum mechanics (theory of the very small) and provide a unified theory of the four fundamental forces of nature - the weak, strong, electromagnetic, and gravitational forces.
   
   The main chapters on superstring theory and M-Theory can be difficult to understand, even to accept as valid, for the layman, but keep in mind that string theory is extremely complex, not fully developed, virtually impossible to test, and consequently, not fully understood at present. The core of superstring theory is that all matter in the universe is made up of one(2,3,etc)-dimensional vibrating strings and hidden dimensions which currently cannot be observed or measured, and may never be. Consequently, matter is not infinitely small but has a very small finite size. Nor is matter and energy limited to the 3-dimensional world we live in, but can occupy up to 6 or 7 higher dimensions that are hidden from our everyday experience.
   
   This book is well worth reading, but whether the layman walks away with a better understanding of the universe after this introduction to superstring theory is debatable. What the layman may walk away with after reading this book is a myriad of questions regarding the very assumptions upon which superstring theory is based. That superstring theory is elegant, and its complex mathematics are elegant, there is no doubt, but whether the universe is also elegant will depend on the validity of superstring theory as a true description of our universe.
   
   Here are some questions from a layman reader:
   1. If we know that observing a small particle changes its position and velocity, and we know how it changes, then we should still be able to observe it.
   2. Where do vibrating strings get there energy from?
   3. The hidden curled-up dimensions seem to exist at the micro level. Why do they not exist as extensions of our four spacetime dimensions, in a way that encapsulates them, at a macro level?
   4. The theory is now up to 11 spacetime dimensions. Is it due mathematical convenience or limitation? Does it really matter if there are 11, 11 million, or an infinite number of spacetime dimensions?
   5. Using duality symmetries, why not assume that gravity is simply a phase transition of the other 3 forces (weak, strong, electromagnetic)?
   6. Does a large mass spinning body create friction, and/or a charge, with its surrounding space that would help to explain gravity as more than the mere warping of space?
   7. If there is a large black hole at the center of our galaxy, should not our galaxy be shrinking, and cant this be measured?
   8. We seem to understand how black holes are created, but not how they die. Why not assume that black holes simply reverse themselves after taking in a suffient amount of matter and energy, and releasing it in the form of a mini-big bang?
   9. Why assume that the universe was created in a big bang. Aspects of superstring theory seem to suggest that the universe may be a perpetual, self-sustaining entity. While everything within the universe can change, including the universe expanding and contracting, the universe itself is a constant.
   10. Are particle accelerators dangerous? Clearly in an attempt to experimentally verify superstring theory, physicists are going to smash particles not just to create new particles predicted by theory, but to try and tear the fabric of space, or to open a portal to a higher dimension, or even to try and create a mini black hole. Of course this does not seem to be a problem for superstring theory which suggests that most disturbances in the universe eventually get averaged out, zeroed out, smoothed out, smeared out, annihilated out, or simply self-repair themselves.



5. just read lee smolin's book.
   
   The Trouble With Physics: The Rise of String Theory, The Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next (Paperback)
   
   over 30 years,the gang of stringers have been trying to find any evidence even at atomic level for their theory , but they failed.
   
   better to read science fiction novels..

5 comments about The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality.

1. I hear everyone raving that The Elegant Universe is a better book. That is just plain WRONG. This book is much better. More info, better analogy, new theories.
   
   The writing in this book is amazing. I never thought Astrophysics could be so interesting!



2. This book is fascinating! Its contents are well suited for an interested non-specialist like me. Brian Greene takes us from the ultra-micro to the ultra-macro.
   
   On the small side, my mind is boggled as I try to imagine multiple dimensions a trillionth the size of the nucleus of an atom, as proposed by superstring theory. Nine dimensions? Ten? It is astonishing how much structure there is in the universe at levels smaller than the atom. On the large side, there are questions such as: Is space itself actually explanding? Is our universe just one of many? Is it a "brain"?
   
   Our minds are designed to contemplate three spatial dimensions and one time dimension, which are all our bodies need to survive. But that does not mean that these are all the dimensions that exist. And what are our bodies anyway? It is amazing to think that our physical structure may be made up of numerous subatomic particles that are minute blips of energy vibrating in any of many posible dimensions. Electrons vibrate in one group of dimensions, protons in another, and so forth, according to superstring theory. While such ideas are still rather hypothetical, it is intriguing to think that they may hold the key to the enigma of how to reconcile Einstein's general theory of relativity with quantum mechanics, both of which approaches have been experimentally proven, but which do not mesh in a rational manner, at least not yet.
   
   Brian Greene does an excellent job of explaining at least the basics of these matters to members of the general public.
   
   (These comments are based on the abridged audio version of the book.)



3. The Fabric of the Cosmos (TFOTC) is one of the most complex non-fiction general reading books you could obtain. It is nearly 500 pages of heady cosmology. Brian Greene, a superstring expert, is able to take an extremely difficult topic and make it less difficult to come to terms with, but this should not be confused with making cosmology simple for everybody. Even those familiar with cosmology might require more than several readings to get the material.
   
   TFOTC is about the microscopic even though the title suggests that we will be mostly looking through a telescope, it is predominantly looking through a microscope. It is important to note though that TFOTC is not a book that is entirely devoted to string theory. If you want a book about string theory then Greene's previous work, The Elegant Universe, is the book you want to read. Three quarters of this book is about spacetime and relativity. The final quarter is about string theory in terms of relativity, the big bang and inflation.
   
   Part 1 Reality's Arena, deals with space and time in terms of classical physics, quantum mechanics, cosmology, spinning buckets of water, Isaac Newton, Ernst Mach, Gottfried Leibniz, relativity and the absolute, special relativity, general relativity, spacetime, quantum laws, probability waves, interference patterns, particle spin, the double slit experiment, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, Albert Einstein, Boris Podolsky and Nathan Rosen.
   
   Part 2 Time and Experience, treats the topics of the flow of time, simultaneousness, the arrow of time, time-reversal symmetry, entropy, the delayed choice quantum eraser experiment and decoherence.
   
   Part 3 Spacetime and Cosmology, delves into the history of the universe, symmetry, cosmic evolution, stretching spacetime, Higgs boson, the grand unification, the Big Bang, inflation, dark energy, the cosmological constant, the formation of galaxies and the origin of time.
   
   Part 4 Origins and Unification discusses string theory, Planck length, Planck time, Branes, M-theory, Edward Witten, Paul Dirac, gravity, extra dimensions and cyclic cosmology.
   
   Part 5: Reality and Imagination looks at space and time travel and comes up with a number of ideas about how time travel could be achieved (although the author thinks it highly unlikely). Teleporters and Time Machines are also described but the author presents more problems than resolutions with these topics. There is a good discussion of worm holes.
   
   This type of book being so all inclusive is hard to come by and in that respect you can't help but appreciate how much Brian Greene knows and has committed to the page. It truly is an impressive book on cosmology.
   
   There is surprisingly little about black holes (probably because Stephen Hawking already does it so well) but Greene's work covers a lot more on entropy, relativity, inflation theory and gravity. If it is entropy, relativity, gravity and inflation theory you want to learn about then TFOTC is where it is at. Many readers will find that it would probably be much better to start with TFOTC and then move onto The Elegant Universe, even though The Elegant Universe was written before this book. Both books can be read stand alone although there is some cross-referencing.
   
   TFOTC has a huge number of footnotes. I found myself keeping two page markers and constantly flipping back and forth between the two. Sometimes this breaks the flow and other times it reveals something more but a lot of it is for the `mathematically inclined reader'. Greene's examples are hit or miss, but most are well presented. Sometimes his examples (usually involving Simpson characters or Mulder and Scully from the X files) are some of the best for any book of its kind (such as the relativity examples) but occasionally they fall short (such as the important inflation examples). Still though, it is hard to find anything else that even attempts to explain these topics in laymen's terms. The book also covers a considerable number of apparent paradoxes and this means that you may find yourself going back several steps in order to make one step forward. This is just the nature of the topic though and the author can hardly be held to fault.
   
   If you know that this book does make you work then there is a good possibility you will read it through to the end. If you are expecting cosmology made so simple a child could get it, you are misleading yourself. There is really no such thing as cosmology for the layman and TFOTC is far from easy. Several readings may even be warranted but that makes it all the more reason to own. You know that one day you will go back to it again and certainly as a reference you will find no better source to give you an idea of where cosmology stands at the start of the 21st century and what is on the horizon.



4. Brian Greene exposes the gaps in our understanding of what we consider to be reality. I found it amusing how we have mastered the technique of patching-up these gaps in order to maintain some sanity of order in our lives. Are we truly scientists or just shamans in disguise?
   
   Well done!



5. As an amateur interested in astronomy and astrophysics I enjoyed listening to Brian Green's the Fabric of the Cosmos very much, learned a lot and thought about fundamental questions about the universe in a different way. The questions below and many others are explored in a very interesting way. The explanations flow smoothly in a logical manner. Questions are raised in a way to get the listener thinking. This audio CD is relevant to both amateurs and professionals on the topic. As an amateur I was not able to understand everything on the CD yet. I am sure that as I listen to the CD several more times I will understand a lot more. These topics are sometimes explained in a boring way in high school physics and college astrophysics courses and therefore can kill interest in the topic. By contrast, this CD introduces them in a very curiosity raising manner. It uses a philosophical and yet at the same time a scientifc approach that is upto date. I have also watched DVDs on similar topics before. So before listening to this CD I was skeptical about whether a CD about the universe lacking the visual elements of a DVD could be interesting or not. My answer now is definitely yes ; the auditory explanations create very interesting mental images in the listener's mind.
   
   Examples to some of the questions, among others, explored in the CD are : What is time ? What is space ? How are they related ? What is reality and how do we perceive it ? Does time always have to flow towards the future or can the direction of flow sometimes reverse ? Does time flow at the same rate in different parts of the universe or not ? How was the universe created ? How is it likely to end ? Is the big bang theory of the creation of the universe valid ? What has banged, how and how long ago? Could the universe actually be a giant brain ? How many dimensions are there in the universe ? Can we perceive all the dimensions or not ? What are matter and energy ? How are they related ? What are black holes ? What could be happening inside black holes ? How does Einstein's theory of general relativity explain the universe ? According to that theory, why is the velocity of light always constant ? What is light made of ? What are photons ? How does light travel in space ? What are the limitations in Isaac Newton's explanation of the universe ? Are objects that are billions of light years apart in the universe completely unrelated or can they affect one another despite those awesome distances ? How do we perceive movement ? Movement occurs with respect to what ? What are frames of reference ? Could we perceive movement in space if there were no other objects at all in the universe ? How did atomic theory start ? What are the smallest particles of matter ? What are quarks ? Are electrons matter or energy ? What is quantum theory ? How does it reconcile with the theory of general relativity ? What is the uncertainty principle ? Why can't the velocity and position of an object be simultaneously determined with absolute certainty ? What is gravity ? Are all forces in the universe such as gravity, electromagnetism etc. actually different manifestations of the same force or not ? What is string theory and how does it explain the universe ? Is a unified theory that explains everything possible ? How is the structure of the atom related to the structure of the universe ? What are the historical developments of various theories that attempt to explain the universe ? What are the contributions of Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Edwin Hubble and many other scientists and philosophers to the development of our understanding of matter, energy, space, time, the universe and the texture of reality ? As of today how much do we understand the universe ? What questions remain unanswered ? What are the likely developments in these theories in the future ? How do the various theories contradict and / or reconcile with one another ?
   
   We may think that the answers to questions such as what is space ? what is gravity ? what is time ? what is reality ? what is movement ? are simple and that we already know the answers from our high school physics courses. So we may reason that there is no need for deep philosophical contemplation about them. However, this CD challenges this type of thinking and makes us aware that what we maybe taking for granted as known facts may not be ultimate answers at all. For example, if you think that space is equivalent to emptiness, to nothingness and if you think that time can flow only in one direction, that is towards what we call the future, think again. This CD challenges these concepts.
   
   Thousands of years ago humankind thought that the Earth was carried on the backs of giant elephants or turtles. A few centuries ago humankind was debating whether the Earth was flat or round, if the Earth orbited the sun or the reverse. Humankind's vision of the universe was limited to the solar system and fixed stars. The only elements were air, soil, fire and water. With the contributions of many scientists including Galileo our understanding of the universe significantly developed to date. However, this CD demonstrates that despite these giant steps, and despite the sophistication of our current theories, we still have a long way to go before we can say that we fully understand the universe. This CD demonstrates that we do not yet have certain and final answers, but we have many questions that are being further explored. Fortunately, we have significant knowledge, that accumulates in the right direction towards the discovery of the " truth ".
   
   So if these matters arouse your curiosity I strongly recommend that you listen to the CD titled " The Fabric of the the Cosmos " by Brian Green.

5 comments about A Brief History of Time.

1. book that sold millions of copies and one wonders how many people read it and of those, how many actually understood it all. I have a scientific education (chemistry), but I frankly admit I did not get it all. It is difficult to explain what is in the book, but is in essence about where we came from and what we are heading to with regard to the universe, time, space and matter. The book is very well written, with a sense of humor and trying to explain the nearly inexplicable to the layman; I could follow large chunks of the text, but sometimes it is just too difficult to comprehend. This made me think: is Stephen Hawking's disadvantage (being locked up in his own body) also his disadvantage? He probably has more time than most people to turn into himself and contemplate on such extremely complex items as black holes, wormholes and the (in)finity of the universe. A book that leaves you in awe.



2. Recommend it to all those who want to have a better understanding of science especially physics and astro-physics.



3. just a great book, explain in a fun and easy way. I just love it



4. Hawking does a commendable job presenting some very detailed and complicated topics while simultaneously exhibiting them in a manner permitting the layman to fully comprehend the material. He accomplished both the simplification of complicated content as well as the presentation of subject matters that might normally be tedious yet are found to be quite appealing as a result of his demeanor and writing style.
   
   Hawking's use of analogies only makes the visualization of space and time all the more accessible to simpler minds such as myself. Frequently taking subjects that require intense imagination and focus and explaining them with everyday analogies perhaps speaks to Hawking's brilliance as much as his research. Never before have I been so easily able to comprehend the expansion of the universe until it was so eloquently equated with the spots on a balloon. This only represents a sampling of the useful correlations one will find in this work, as he scatters them throughout each chapter.
   
   For those seeking to explore the mindset of the most prominent men of science and to discover the questions they are asking in their quest for answers, this book will not disappoint. If you have even a basic interest in astronomy or physics, this book should be an essential part of your library.



5. Stephen W. Hawking is a theoretical physicist who has held the post at Cambridge University once held by Isaac Newton. Hawking writes of attending a conference on cosmology at the Vatican in 1981. At the end of the conference the pope cautioned that scientists should not examine the moment of the creation of the universe because that was the work of God. In his book Stephen Hawking has not heeded the pope's advice. One of his conclusions is that we now have a picture of developments "to about one second after the Big Bang" (p. 118). For Hawking, scientific inquiry has moved from "what" questions right on through to "how" and is at the point of answering "why." As soon as theorists succeed in incorporating the law of gravity into a properly developed and tested grand unification theory (GUT) we will then "know the mind of God" (p. 175).
   
   Hawking writes carefully for the non-specialist. He has taken the trouble to provide a glossary with page references. He has avoided mathematical formulas and has worked hard to find analogies for the abstractions of twentieth-century physics. The universe looks the same from all directions, "rather like a balloon with a number of spots painted on it, being steadily blown up. As the balloon expands, the distance between any two spots increases, but there is no spot that can be said to be the center of the expansion" (p. 42).
   
   Any careful reader can use Hawking's little book (198 pages including introduction, glossary, index, and three excursi on Einstein, Galileo, and Newton) to participate in ongoing discussions about a number of questions that are asked these days primarily by children and physicists. What is nature, and where did it come from? What is time? Is it possible to move backward in time? Is there a beginning or a boundary to the universe? Will the universe come to an end, and what kind of end will it be? What did God do in the beginning, and what role does God play now in the physical world?
   
   The answers to such questions, Hawking believes, are to be found in the inquiries of theoretical physicists. For Hawking, the core of modern physics is quantum mechanics, the development of theories having to do with the movement and the components of energy, as distinguished from classical physics, the study of the properties of matter. Hawking states that quantum physics underlies nearly all of modern science and development, including nuclear power and micro technology and asserts that quantum physics will eventually not only explain the origin of every thing but also predict the future.
   
   A number of ideas compressed into this small book warrant further examination. Hawking writes of a "survival advantage" (p. 12) scientific discovery has conveyed to humankind that can be canceled by further discoveries that "may destroy us all" (p. 12). Life in our sector of the galaxies developed because of disorder in matter that disrupted the generally smooth character of the universe. Hawking suggests that intelligent beings can exist only in an expanding universe. The idea here is that scientific laws are predictable in only one direction through time and that a collapsing universe would cause a reversal of the "arrows of time" (pp. 143 f.) and would thus invalidate human comprehensibility. Hawking speculates about a notion called "the anthropic principle" (p. 124), which appears to mean that the universe is as it is because, if it were not, we would not be around to observe it. But if the anthropic principle is the bottom line then scientific cosmology has become anthropology, and why waste any more time with telescopes or particle accelerators? Hawking suggests that the universe (time and space taken together) is "finite yet without boundary" (p. 136). This is the most arresting and, as yet unprovable of Stephen Hawking's proposals, but he is willing to wait for further observations that may move this idea to a higher degree of probability.
   
   In the midst of all this theorizing Hawking conveys something of the playfulness of many who are engaged in the quantum physics quest. There is mention of a now-discarded theory known as LGM 1-4, LGM standing for "little green men." The explosion that is supposed to have kicked off our expanding universe is commonly known as the Big Bang. The smallest known particles are called quarks and come in flavors; the uniform nature of collapsing stars goes by the maxim "black holes have no hair." (p. 92)
   
   Because theoretical physics has turned very precisely toward the whys of life, theology and ethics will have to pay closer attention. I will give two examples. When did time begin? Hawking offers the idea of a "singularity," a unique event in time at which the laws of science break down and predictability disappears. The Big Bang, therefore, is a singularity, and it may be said that time began with creation itself. From this it follows that time will come to an end when the universe ceases its expansion, collapses into itself, and perhaps sets off another Big Bang. The singularity idea has many implications for the theological dimensions of eschatology as well as for cosmology.
   
   An example of the importance of quantum physics for ethics might be the "uncertainty principle" of Werner Heisenberg (1926), which Hawking refers to as "a fundamental, inescapable property of the world" (p. 55). Briefly, the uncertainty principle asserts that the position and velocity of particles cannot be precisely predicted. Rather, particles exist in a quantum state, which is a combination of position and velocity and which suggests a range of possible locations where particles are likely to be found. This means that we do not live in a deterministic universe where definite results can be expected. This also suggests there is a limit to our capacity to know what is going on.
   
   If results in science are subject to randomness, ought not this principle of uncertainty be recognized when we speak of "good" and "bad" behavior? Isn't it less pretentious and more helpful to think in terms of quantum ethics, which would allow for a range of appropriate actions? I think this kind of approach is in harmony with Jesus' comments about ethical behavior. When asked about the greatest of God's commands he cited the Shemah (Deut. 6:4) and added that "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:29-30). This admonition finds parallels in many traditions and leaves much room for intelligent, responsible reflection-action.
   
   Theoretical physics awaits and accepts the judgment of the future, whose discoveries and experiments either prove, or dismiss earlier claims. The author cites many instances of this: even the supernovas of physics, Newton and Einstein, admitted earlier mistakes or had their ideas corrected by others. Most theological reflection, on the other hand, lacks any sort of empirical reference. In other words, theological speculations, disconnected as they are from a close reading of "secular" history, normally make predictions that do not have to agree with observation.
   
   In the last ten years or so theoretical physics has turned cosmology into a subject for scientific discussion and discovery. Can theological speculation accept the challenge of quantum physics and adapt to the conceptual limits that are laid down? Are seminaries prepared to train pastors and teachers to pay attention to the quanta discussions? How might theocentric statements be tested and then sustained or discarded? These are a few of the questions that quantum physics has placed on the theological agenda.
   
   This review was first published in 1989 and has been republished in a collection of reviews and articles, That's What I'm Talking About (Nativa 2008). THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT

5 comments about A Briefer History of Time.

1. This is an excellent book. It is easy to understand with good illustrations. I liked the first book, A Brief History of Time, and this one was even better with more illustrations and updated information including information on the string theory.



2. Of all of Hawking's books, and I believe I own and have read them all, this one is by far the easiest to read and understand. Difficult topics to comprehend are taken step by step, mostly in laymen's terms, from the beginnings of astronomy thru current efforts to find a unified theory for everything. If you really want to begin to understand our place in the universe this is a good place to start, followed by earlier books written by Dr. Hawking. You can knock this book out on a Saturday morning a dazzle your friends with your newfound knowledge on Saturday night.



3. I've heard it said that Stephen Hawking's 1988 bestseller A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME is the book everybody owns but hardly anyone has read. In this 2005 book Hawking adds an "er" to the title and makes the content much more accessible to a lay audience while bringing them up to date with the latest developments in string theory and the discovery of dark energy. In 150 pages everything important in the field is discussed from the work of early astronomers to the possibility of time travel. Helpful color pictures/diagrams are included as well as a glossary of terms related to the content. The writing may be a little dry in a few places but when the book is finished the reader will have a much better understanding of the difficult but fascinating concepts addressed.



4. Briefer isn't always better. While this treatment is much more accessible than the merely Brief version, it is disappointing by not exploring the more paradoxical and complex issues of quantum uncertainty and paired-particles.
   
   If you haven't read Hawkings before, read this book first. If you are still curious, then read the denser, "merely brief" version for a fuller treatment.



5. I purchased the audio version of the book; complex topic made amazingly simple in a superb narration.
   
   If all audiobooks are this good, I will look forward to my 27 mile commute to work!

5 comments about Flying Saucers and Science: A Scientist Investigates the Mysteries of UFOs: Interstellar Travel, Crashes, and Government Cover-Ups.

1. Stanton Friedman does it again. From an in-depth look at how the world's governments and military can keep secrets from themselves and the rest of the world to the multitude of factual evidence supporting UFO sightings, landings and abductions; his latest book does not disappoint. Anyone who is famliar with him or his work should know that he has worked as a nuclear physicist for years, many of which were for classified government and private projects.
   
   In his latest book, he presents some of the most compelling evidence for the "Cosmic Watergate" surrounding UFOs, extraterrestrial life and their cover-up, which has been in effect for at least 60 years. From examining exotic propulstion systems, including nuclear fission and fusion powered rockets, to the reasons why such disclosure of ET life is the most important topic for us as a species, this book is simply a must read.



2. This book assumes the reader is already quite knowledgeable about Roswell/MJ-12 etc. It refers broadly to primary source material such as "project blue book special report #14" that purportedly describes many documented "physical trace" UFO sightings but does not provide specific examples therefrom, which would have been helpful.
   
   Deliciously enjoyed was Friedman's ruthless lampooning of the over-hyped "Cult of SETI" and his analysis of why major news outlets, such as the Washington Post, are content not to treat the UFO topic seriously.
   
   Crop circles and animal mutilation cases are specifically excluded from coverage in this book. While not for the novice, Flying Saucers and Science is a stimulating and informative read. The bibliography is a bit terse, however.



3. In a few words - a MUST book!!!
   
   Just get this book and study it. This is one of Friedmans most important books.
   
   Hannan Sabat
   Israeli Extraterrestrials & UFOs Research Association
   WWW.EURA.ORG.IL



4. I can tell you this book is a major publication.
   The author explained the subject with scientific authority.
   One of the best books in this area.
   
   S. Mahdi, Cairo, Egypt



5. Stanton Friedman has once again delivered a knock out blow to skeptics and naysayers. After reading Flying Saucers and Science you will be thoroughly convinced as to the existence of extraterrestrials and the ongoing government cover up.

5 comments about Dark Mission: The Secret History of NASA.

1. This is a very in depth book that goes in to triginometry and hyperdimensional physics. It is very thorough in backing up its claims with evidence and information. Good book but not a light quick read.



2. This is Richard Hoagland's best book ever and also confirms what I had suspected for many years. As a retired USAF Colonel, I have heard and seen many things of great "interest". As a pilot for 44 years, I have also heard and seen many things of even greater interest. This books gives me more solid evidence that I have not been a bit "crazy" over all of these years. The book lets us know that our tax dollars for NASA are going to "covert" and "black" ops programs and to keep the world ignorant of the truth of what has been found on the earth, the moon, and Mars.



3. I have been a fan of Richard Hoagland and his findings for some time now and this new book is just another example of his commitment to his work and humanity. The information contained within is essential for anyone who has a thirst for the truth. It reaches beyond the mere cover up that NASA (and others) have perpetuated for over 50 years, to the very core of existence. Who are we?; Where did we come from? and ultimately, where could we be going? A fascinating read, highly recommended!!



4. I heartily recommend this book. Good reading, although it bogs a little in the front part with a lot of technical jargon.
   
   Hoagland has done his research very well and exposes NASA as another of those wonderful government branches which will LIE to the American people to further it's hidden goals.
   
   I always wondered what the true reason was behind the sudden stoppage of the Apollo missions in the Mid-70s.
   
   I leave the verbosity to the other reviewers here... as they seem to enjoy that! ;-)



5. Richard Hoagland has been my hero for many a year, and it is breathtaking to see all this information at last in writing. The disparity between what we're told, and the Truth about Space will make you Gasp. Then it will make you Mad. From statements from the Astronauts, to true history from NASA insiders; from retouched and blurred photos from NASA, to the REAL pics of the moon and mars. What is out there is our right to know, and to demand our rights, and soon, is an urgent necessity. There's Big Plans going on for our Solar System, and they don't seem to include Us.

4 comments about The Black Hole War: My Battle with Stephen Hawking to Make the World Safe for Quantum Mechanics.

1. highly recommended. very interesting read, even for those not familiar with the underlying physics. suskind is a talent writer, able to make esoteric concepts accessible to the lay-reader. he is also one of the vanguards of later 20th century physics. there is an on-going, vigorous debate swirling around the dark corners of our universe. for anyone with an interest in that debate, this is a must read.



2. Leonard Susskind is not only a co-father of string theory, the holographic principle, and many other key concepts of physics but also one of the most original physicists of our era.
   
   He's been fighting against some superficially plausible but fundamentally wrong ideas for decades. During this ferocious fight, he had to discover many fascinating things about quantum gravity.
   
   The battle was about the preservation of the information by black holes. Using revolutionary but approximate results, Stephen Hawking has argued since the 1970s that the information is lost after a black hole evaporates. Leonard Susskind claimed that it was preserved: this preservation, also called unitarity, is one of the postulates of quantum mechanics and these postulates are and have to be completely universal.
   
   Susskind was right. We know many reasons why it is so, including recent results in string theory, and many of them are explained in the book. We also know loopholes that show that Hawking's old qualitative arguments are not quite correct even though his numerical results are numerically almost accurate.
   
   It took many years for Hawking to understand and admit that the information was preserved in the full theory and that physics makes sense. During those years, Susskind was a new "Ahab" waiting for Hawking's elusive concession. However, the book offers a lot of personal stories and emotions, too. Susskind talks about several well-known names of science such as Stephen Hawking, Gerard 't Hooft, Roger Penrose, and Richard Feynman. All of them, and others, have been players in this fascinating story.
   
   Although Susskind is arguably the least known to the general public among these fives names, every real physicist would tell you that he is indisputably the most qualified person to explain how black holes actually work in this quantum world.
   
   Because as an outspoken son of a plumber, he is also close to the middle and working class and an articulate peer of Brian Greene and other great and charismatic science communicators, everyone who is interested in black holes, gravity, and quantum mechanics should read this book.
   
   The physics book market was recently flooded by a lot of trash written by crackpots similar to Peter Woit and Lee Smolin and it is time for the most intelligent readers to pull their heads out of the sand and see one of the great things that cutting-edge theoretical physics has actually achieved by 2008.



3. This is absolutely the greatest example of what popular science book about theoretical physics/cosmology should be !! Writing is so brilliant, witty, straightforward, direct and succinct, that regardless of education level, anybody can enjoy interesting content (history of science as well as author's personal story) of "The Black Hole War". Author uses analogies in the best possible way, comparable only to Brian Greene and Michio Kaku. Drawings are frequent, well selected, informative and easy to understand. He writes: "The real tools for understanding the quantum universe are abstract mathematics: infinite dimensional Hilbert spaces, projection operators, unitary matrices and a lot of other advanced principles that take a few years to learn. But let's see how we do in just a few pages". AND HE DELIVERES !! While this book could be a starter for anybody, I recommend it to all who know Kip Thorne's famous work. For reason unknown to me, important black hole "war" is not mentioned in "Black Holes & Time Warps" at all. Professor Susskind created a true masterpiece where he even accepts coexistence of science and faith by writing: "The British intellectual world seems to be big enough for both Dawkins and Polkinghorne". Nothing but big applaud for the author and his effort !!



4. Susskind describes the decades-long battle between the quantum mechanics community and the general relativists as to whether information is lost when objects pass through the event horizon of a black hole and the hole eventually evaporates. According to Prof. Hawking and the GR community, as nothing can ever reappear from inside an event horizon, the information is indeed totally lost.
   
   Susskind and Gerard 't Hooft begged to differ. Loss of information would violate the basic time-reversibility of QM: Hawking's ideas would lead to universe-destroying phenomena (p. 23). Somehow, the information locked the wrong side of the event horizon must leak out via Hawking radiation. But how?
   
   The resolution of this dilemma took many years of conjectures and refutations. Susskind takes us on a tour of entropy, holographic principles and physics at the Planck scale. And the adversarial plot keeps the reader turning the pages.
   
   I am normally very dubious about popularisations. They proceed by raking up endless analogies which never quite fit together, so that by the end of the book, your mind is like that jig-saw puzzle you bought and could never fit together.
   
   This book was never going to be the exception - the mathematics of quantum field theory, general relativity and string theory are just too arcane for popular culture concepts to cohere around. However, there are wonderful insights all the way through this book and we do end up learning something about the large scale map of the territory. Apparently even the experts find it hard to get the whole thing into one focus.