Jackson has written a good work criticizing the christian religion, but he seems to be proving it instead of denying it. Anyone who has studied religions closely especially their historical origins cannot help but be struck by many similarities among them. Jackson writes that the pagan gods and godesses were made up to explain the universe under the narratives of myths. He then claims that christianity borrowed these pagan myths and this is how the bible, christ, etc. originated. If one studies the various religions closely one sees striking similarities. For instance, there are many crucified saviours, the aztecs practiced confession very similar to the catholic rites, believers in mithra have a eucharistic rite, some of the pagan gods were crucified then ressurected and so on. Why are there so many similarities? Jackson would have us believe that the pagans made such things up and the christians borrowed from them to make up their religion. Whats intresting is that Jackson quotes Augustine " That which is known as the christian religion existed among the ancients, and never did not exist, from the beginning of the human race until the time when christ came in the flesh, at which time the true religion, which already existed began to be called christianity." This is a very revealing quote. It shows that there was in fact a true religion from the beginning of the world. It may have been corrupted after the passage of time. This would explain how the pagans and the various religions have the same themes of crucifixion, ressurection, etc. all throughout the world. A very good book explaining all of this is the Two babylons by Hislop. Jacksons book is good because it shows that the original christianity may have been more profound than we know with elements of mind power and so forth that are scattered through the religions of the world. Although I dont agree with Jacksons conclusions, his research on the pagan religions, the quote from Augustine etc. all make for very intresting reading. This is a great book.

Mr. Jackson is a well-educated man. I find his book to be strikingly on point and backed by credible evidence. Yet, some people "Arthur" tend to deny anything that has its roots seeded deeply into the Egyptian Religion. I must state that to understand the Egyptian Religion you must learn that: "The Egyptian Religion was a pure Monotheism manifested externally by symbolic Polytheism". The Bible even contains this understanding when Jesus says in Psalm 82 verse 6: "I have said,Ye (you) are gods, and all of you are children of the most high".This is a direct quote. So, according to the bible the manifestation is with us.

This book answers one of the most important theological manipulation ever invented by western culture. This book tells the truth that most so called christians can't dismiss nor understand.

The TRUTH!

Although it's a little light on the 50's and 60's overall this is a good read. Great presentation. Nice photography.

This is one wonderful book. It gives a better understanding of Brooklyn's surroundings. I particularly found interesting the histories of Street-names. Now I'd like to know the histories of all the neighborhoods of NYC: Queens, the Bronx, Manhattan, and last and definitely least, Staten Island, particularly the neighborhood of Grasmere.

One of the most accurate portrayals of Brooklyn ever. Accurate neighborhood borders and fantastic descriptions. I was especially fond of Professor John Manbeck's historic "time line" added to this book. Well worth the price!

I love this book! I think it is illustrated well and it is very detailed. It is so good that you have to read it more then once to catch everything.

If William Faulkner, Franz Kafka and Arthur C. Clarke got together and wrote a storyline for a graphic novel, it couldn't be any more perfectly twisted with Chris Claremont's Deadliest of the Species. Barreto's art is also superb and illustrates the story wonderfully in a very cinematic form. This is a phenomenally conceived and ridiculously convoluted story. If you're looking for vanilla shoot-em-up-oh-no-acid-blood-type stuff, then don't read this. (In the introduction, there is a actually a response to a letter complaining about "the mythos being broken" because of issues involving Predator gender. Ridiculous.) But if you want a compelling look at self-doubt, human relationships, and most importantly, self-preservation (and rarely in the classic comic-book sense, particularly in the ridiculously planned final scene), then definitely read this at least twice. this is not a comic book about Aliens and Predators so much as a book, in comic form, involving predators and aliens. You will not catch every subtlety of plot the first time, and probably not even the second time. And no, it really doesn't have anything to do with the AvP universe other than the fact that it's set there; however, said universe is very convenient in its fundamental similarites between the previously established perspectives of alien, predator, and human.

On the flip side, Claremont does seem to indulge himself from time to time by juggling essentially unnecessary stories and scenarios to further his smoke and mirrors, and doesn't always clarify between hallucination and reality. (Although they represent cholesterol, I think that even these enhance the effect of the story by placing the reader in the fuguelike state of the protagonist. But this is also a retrospective opinion...) Also, the last two installments don't seem to connect to the first ten very well, as if he spent too much time on exposition, so the leadup to the ending seems abrupt and is slightly jarring. You probably won't understand what ... is going on in the last ten pages the first time you read through, and you will probably end up backtracking. Nonetheless, despite these minor quibbles, this is a classic and is worth every minute.

This has everything you would want from a predator or alien book. On the alien side, the book combines the horror of alien with the action of aliens, something that is rare in an aliens trade paperback and that I have never seen been so seemlessy integrated. On the predator side, one of the main things I look for in a predator novel, information on predator culture, is delivered in spades. New predator technology is shown (another plus) and even some predator physiology is thrown in. I believe this is the first book that describes exactly what gas predators breath (its methane) and what happens to them if they lose their mask. This adds depth to the story. It departs from the aliens vs. predator storyline, having nothing to do with aliens vs. predator or aliens vs. predator: war trade paperbacks (which share a storyline with the aliens vs. predator novels). Taking place after aliens: genocide (aliens: the female war), it deals with a rebuilt, but still dangerous, earth. One of the biggest surprises is that the predator is female, the first (but not the last) time a female has been seen in a predator novel. A familiar face (if you can call it a face) from another aliens book will show up later in the series, as well. The story is set up for a sequel (which hasn't been produced yet), which is always a turn off. However, there is a ton of plot twists, a large amount of character depth, a number of sub-conflicts, and a several villan changes. I have read nearly every aliens, predator, and aliens vs. predator comic and novel ever written , and this is the best (and longest) I have ever seen.

John Haskell is a writer new to the reading (though not the performing) world and his voice is one that stirs interest, primarily because it is unique. He tells these nine 'short stories' - they seem more like extended meditations or themes and fugues - in a manner that combines known public figures (a particular penchant for old movie stars and old movies) with imaginary cast members to explore the thin line of reality vs fiction. He makes bizarre choices in combining such people as Orson Welles, Joseph Coton, Falstaff, Prince Hal and Janet Leigh to ponder self perception:"...once we think we know who we are, to change who we are means giving up what we love, even if we hate it." The haiku poet Basho is intertwined with thoughts about John Keats; Keats falls short of relating to Fanny Brawne until he faces his moment of death; Basho confesses he "...wants to find beauty and harmony, but something is always distracting him - people usually - pulling him off the road." Mercedes McCambridge, the devil voice of Linda Blair in "The Exorcist", struggles with alcoholism, Joan of Arc is recallled historically and through the various guises of the actress who portrayed her in the film. Sound confusing? Well it is, and sometimes the obtuseness of Haskell's technique borders on not the absurd, but the senseless. I think we're seeing the early work of a mind that is rich in fluid imagination. I feel as though this author has a lot to say but is hiding behind the likes of Jackson Pollock and Joan of Arc and Ganesha for fear of not being noticed. I don't think he needs this gimmick and I eagerly await his next novel. He WILL be noticed on his own rights.

Publisher's Weekly (editorial reviews) describes the nature of this book far better than the previous customer review. Haskell is ambitious, knows this work is perversely anomalous, but isn't motivated by difference for its own sake. He's winnowed down what really interests him in fiction and is relying on myth, news accounts, and film scenarios the way a composer might riff on familiar melodies.

None of these pieces (though in a sense the complete book has an inviolate structure of its own) was transcendent, however. I was interested but not rapt. No sirens or fireworks went off. But Haskell is nonetheless an artist in the best sense; he is after something beyond the familiar confines of fiction, is following his own muse without apology or a need to ingratiate himself with the reader, and I have a strong hunch that his best efforts lie ahead. He is original, focused, and definitely a writer to watch.

John Haskell's first short story collection takes key figures from history, identifies them at defining moments in their existence and builds a story around them to explain their significance. It's an interesting take on the short story, which some say is a dying art, and Haskell does good work, for the most part.

His premise, though, turns the "stories" into more analysis of moment than a narrative. Occasionally, the stories become bogged down and feel like essays, though this is itself is intellectually stimulating.

He gives the reader a look inside Jackson Pollock's head in one piece, granting you the opportunity to follow Pollock's reasoning.

In "Elephant Feelings," the best of the stories, Haskell takes three figures from culture and history and draws parallels between them. (It feels like a shorter version of "The Hours," even, except with mythical characters and an elephant playing the Virginia Woolf part.) But not enough is done with the premise, in my opinion.

As with all the stories, I felt like the characters and moments were well-drawn. But, to justify going into all this detail, I wished it'd featured less analysis and more plot.

Beat the Heat, a Radical Survival Handbook is a relic from days gone by. The book is intended as a guide to those involved in the revolutionary struggle against repression that was said to have begun in the late sixties. Content in the four standard sections of any revolutionary guide book, People's Law, Community Organization Guide, First Aid for Activists and Firearms and Self-Defense is detailed and full of common sense.
Beat the Heat will guide you step by step through such experiences as being busted by the pigs for drugs, how to print your own demonstration leaflets, how to avoid the diseases of communal living, first aid for confrontation situations, firearm selection and tactical defensive firearm use. Overall, the book is detailed, and is a basic common sense approach to avoiding trouble while doing illegal things. What it lacks in originality, it certainly compensates for in volume.

Legends take on a life on their own, and that is as true with Alan Freed as with anyone in the early rock years. Much of the mis-information, hype, lies and distortions have surfaced from his ardent fans and his vitriolic enemies, and some of the mis-information (i.e. hype) came from Freed himself.
But, then, he WAS a showman, after all. This book cuts through much of the haze, hype and harangues and gets to the real Freed. Interviewing many family members and close friends, this is a thoroughly interesting and readable story, even for those who THINK they know what the story is.
From the early days in Ohio on to the "heyday" at WINS and then, all too quickly to the debacle in Boston, which caused all the "rats" within the industry to bail out on Freed, this is a story all true music fans should read.

But, regardless of the money and favors that changed hands during the birth of rock and roll, it seems likely that Freed never played anything that he didn't have faith in musically. Much as Lenny Bruce became the "fall guy" for un-censored social commentary, Freed paid the price for a new kind of music, and also paid the price because that music was a key factor in bring ing the races together.
When Alan's death came just a few scant years after his fame was ripped from him by the rock-n-roll foes, it was undoubtedly his heavy drinking and a weakened liver that was the actual cause of death. Emotionally, a broken man at the young age of 43, Alan Freed was actually far more influential than he could have ever imagined himself. In those incendiary moments at the live shows that he so artfully orchestrated, and in the telephone book-pounding and sing-along fervor of his radio shows,it is doubtful that even he could have known how far his ground-breaking work would influence and change the world of music in the ensuing decades.

GURPS Y2K seems poised to be a good sourcebook for post-apocalyptic role-playing. Don't be put off by the name - this book contains much more than just the millennium bug.

Starting with a chapter on Y2K (which we know on 20-20 hindsight never became the calamity that some were predicting), there are ideas in this book for everything from a complete world-wide computer shutdown, to "Mad Max" type worlds, and even the biblical "Judgement Day", along with several others. There's also a section on a super-hero world suffering from post-apocalypse blues.

The "sidebars" (sections of the book along the sides of each page) contain even more material that can be used to put your game world in a state of chaos. Some of these sidebars beg to be put into whole worlds of their own.

But the book suffers slightly when it reads a little like a collection of articles about post-apocalypse scenarios in gaming, rather than a single world presented in RPG terms. The =nine= authors each contributed a section or two to this book, and only the excellent effort by Sean Punch to put it all together under one roof keeps this book from being merely a collection of unrelated after Armageddon articles.

I'd still recommend this book for people wanting to see what their campaign world would look like after a major catastrophe, or for people wanting to explore what happens after.

Well, overall the book was pretty well made. It touched upon many of the common topics and settings for a post holocaust envirnoment including everything from minor computer glitches to the Biblical apacalypse and "Mad Max" and "The Postman" type situations. Even alien invasion was discussed in the essays. All seven authors of the book provided well written source matterial. Y2k also gives information on realistic rioting and anarchy.

There was one point I did not like about the book though. It would make many references to other GURPS source books, some of which were out of print, for more material on a subject. I feel that some of the writing was judt put in a advertisements and "plug" for other books.

Personally, I wish they had touched more on the "Mad Max," "Postman," and "Fallout" (a post-apacalyptic computer game) scenarios, but I do realize that the book was created for post Y2K campaigns and that everyone does not like what I like.

Overall, though, the book provides good post distaster material.

First of all there is a review of this book by someone that, apparently, didn't read it. The book has no pictures, it is like the title imply ILUSTRATED. The ilustrations are good but I wouldn't say awesome. Some of them are available as posters in various stores. The stories are interesting and present the Labrador in other aspects of life and not only in the hunting field which I consider a very good thing. One thing is for sure, this is a Labs lovers book. Believe me, if you don't love the breed you probably won't enjoy the book as much. If you do love Labs, as much as I do, you'll enjoy the reading and ilustrations. But I wouldn't say this is an exceptional book. It is good.

When I bought this book I didnt know how good the pictures were. Now I know thier AWSOME! You'll never regret buying this WONDERFUL book!

This book introduces the study of pagan origins for Christianity. It is quite concise and gives the reader a primer on the subject. However, if you are looking for an exhaustive study, you will not find it in this 32 page booklet

Concise and easy-to-read. Christian doctrines are traced to their origins in older religions, and Jesus' similarities to other savior-gods are delineated. ** Excellent **

Ummm, well I didn't read the book, and that's why I gave it 3 stars because I dont really know how, the book is, but if you start a book on the wrong foot that's not, well a good start. Well, I think, I am pretty sure of the tribe this person is talking about. It is the tribe that I am from. ACTUALLY, It's a branch of the Blackfeet. The Correct way of spelling this is "Pikuni." It was spelled "Piikani." Thank u

John Jackson's Piikani Blackfeet examines the history and culture of the Piikani people, using government records, journals, and scholarly studies from both published and unpublished sources. Chapters chart the realities of early Native American life.

A great photography collection compiled by Elton John when you view the show at the High Museum in Atlanta, GA. He has over 2500 photos in his collection and the show is a good look at the history of photography even though it only exhits 320 works from the collection.