History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Asia/America: Identities in Contemporary Asian American Art

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Asia/America: Identities in Contemporary Asian American Art
Margo Machida , Vishakha Desai , and John Tchen
Manufacturer: New Perspectives
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Fresh Talk/Daring Gazes: Conversations on Asian American Art

ASIN: 1565840909

Book Description

Between heaven and Texas, there's a sky that goes on forever. On cloudless mornings after a norther has blown through, the sky is such a perfect cobalt blue that you forget the "between" and know that heaven is Texas, or Texas is heaven—it doesn't really matter which. But most days there are clouds between Texas and heaven—puffy white clouds that set us dreaming on lazy summer days or roiling storm clouds that unleash lightning, tornadoes, and hail. The sky between heaven and Texas is a stage for drama more often than not, just like the lives we live below it. Perhaps that's why we're always looking up.

In this beautiful book, noted photographer Wyman Meinzer revisits the place that inspires his most creative work—the Texas sky. His photographs capture the vast dramas that occur between heaven and Texas—rainstorms that blot out mountain ranges, lightning strikes that dazzle a night-black prairie, trains of clouds that rumble for miles over wheat fields, sunsets that lave the whole wide sky in crimson, gold, and pink. Meinzer's striking images reveal that in the sky above, no less than on the land below, endless variety is commonplace in Texas.

Joining Meinzer in this celebration of the Texas sky are two fine writers, Sarah Bird and Naomi Shihab Nye. In her wonderfully personal introduction, Sarah Bird describes growing up as a dedicated cloud-watcher who, after several years among the cotton candy clouds and cool fogs of Japan, was shocked and exhilarated by the limitless hot skies of Texas. Naomi Nye has chosen poems by twenty-six Texas poets, including herself, which explore a spectrum of emotion about the sky above Texas and the weather in our lives beneath it. Together, photographs, memoir, and poems create a lasting connection with the power and presence of what Meinzer calls "that vast frontier and ocean above"—the sky between heaven and Texas.

Customer Reviews:

Photographs of the Sky.......2006-08-20

This book is unusal because it is photographs of the sky as it goes through different types of weather conditions. The photographs are beautiful and faith building.

Average customer rating:

A must have for any comic art buff!

A good look into the process

Kevin Eastman's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Artobiography
Kevin Eastman
Manufacturer: Heavy Metal Magazine
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - The Ultimate Ninja (Volume 11)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - City At War (Volume 14)

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Season 4 (2 Discs, 14 Episodes)

ASIN: 1882931858

Customer Reviews:

A must have for any comic art buff!.......2005-09-12

It's been a longtime in the waiting but it's finally here. A massive HC compilation into the making of one of the biggest indie blockbusters in the comic book genre. Co creator Kevin Eastman shed's light on the making of the 1st dozen issues or so from the 1st TMNT series. Included are sketches, doodles, notes, etc. Hopefully Peter Laird decide's to put out his own art book too at some point down the road along with all of Mirage Studios' great works. 'nuff said!

A good look into the process.......2003-12-27

This is a good look into the process of the creation of the ninja turtles and some of the first issues. There are tons and tons of sketches, notes and various doodles for the first few books. There are also some really cool galleries and miscellaneous sketches.

For the most part, the book follows the first 12 or so comics(the ones Eastman and Laird both worked on) and shows thumbnails and finished illos for them. In the sidebars are little notes, which are sometimes illuminating, but mostly just kind of random.

I really like this book, but I would have liked more insight. It's great to see all this art (makes me wish sometimes they didn't use that icky toning stuff) and all these various covers, but most of the comments are random or not illuminating, which is a disappointment. It's still a great book. Lots of great art. A great coffee table book, and a steal at Amazon's price, and a must for TMNT fans.

This book is only for Kevin Eastmans point of view. I can't wait until Mr. Lair puts out a book.

Average customer rating:
*Signed* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Artobiography
Kevin Eastman
Manufacturer: Heavy Metal c.2002
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N2D89U

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Northern Neck Memories: The Russell Snow Story
D. Lyell Hall
Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1413762050

Book Description

The rural farm country of the Northern Neck of Virginia is the setting for this delightfully funny tale of the misadventures of a rambunctious boy and his rowdy, irreverent grandfather. Set in the late 1950s, the story revives a part of American country culture that has long since passed to posterity. It was a time of innocence for a young boy and a time when the pleasures of his grandfather's life could most often be found in the presence of friends and neighbors and in the company of bullfrogs and polecats, row boats and gum boots. The story flows through woods and fields, mill ponds and tidal rivers, and portrays the irrepressible personality of a middle-aged farmer who delights in his role as grandfather to the boy and husband to a playful, patient and ever-forgiving Irish wife. A short, easy read, it's an emotional roller coaster, a tale of laughter and tears, of joy and sorrow.

Product Description

Awarded the Adele Mellen Prize for Distinguished Contribution to Scholarship This book offers a critical Latin text with English, facing-page translation of Epifanio de Moirans's "Servi Liberi" seu Naturalis Mancipiorum Libertatis Iusta Defensio". The events described in "Servi Liberi" occurred in Havana, Cuba toward the end of 1681 and the beginning of 1682. It was then that the author, de Moirans, a Frenchman from Burgundy, along with Francisco Jos?? de Jaca, a Spaniard from Aragon and fellow Capuchin, did what was most impossible and subversive at the time: he condemned the very institution of slavery. The only extant copy of "Servi Liberi" is in Seville s Archivo General de Indias, which, though formerly a stock exchange, became the official depository for Spanish colonial documents over two hundred years ago. "Servi Liberi" has survived because of the Archive; had it perished, we would have no knowledge of these events, no awareness of these campaigns, and no idea of how two Capuchins struggled with all the established political, economic, and religious interests of their time to change the widespread and destructive practice of slavery.

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A CELEBRATION OF WESTERN MOVIES

John Ford and the American West
Peter Cowie
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Direction & Production | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0810949768

Book Description

Legendary filmmaker John Ford made some 50 Westerns in a career that spanned more than half a century. From the silent classic Straight Shooting in 1917 to 1964's Cheyenne Autumn-and including such cinematic gems as Stagecoach, My Darling Clementine, Fort Apache, and The Searchers-Ford's Westerns have entered movie history as imperishable examples of the human spirit. This groundbreaking book is the first to take a visual approach to these films, relating them to the paintings and sculptures of Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Remington, Charles M. Russell, and other artists.

Ford also drew inspiration from the primal beauty of the American landscape; so many of his films, such as She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Wagon Master, are set against the untamed wilderness of the Southwest's Monument Valley that the area came to be known as "Ford country." Author Peter Cowie shows how this master filmmaker used a variety of visual sources to create his idealized view of frontier life, crafting films that capture the enduring essence of the national character and epitomize the mythology of the American West. AUTHOR BIO: Peter Cowie has written more than 20 books on the cinema, among them The Cinema of Orson Welles and biographies of Ingmar Bergman and Francis Ford Coppola. He is the founder of the International Film Guide, which he edited for 40 years. Cowie is sometime Regents Lecturer in Film Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Customer Reviews:

A CELEBRATION OF WESTERN MOVIES.......2004-12-19

Western movie fans, here's the book for you. And, it's a beauty with some 125 illustrations from John Ford's greatest films. Characteristically modest, the legendary film director once introduced himself by saying, "My name is John Ford. I make Westerns." What an understatement. He is arguably the best and most prolific director of Western films in the history of Hollywood.

Who can forget "Stagecoach," "Drums Along the Mohawk," "Fort Apache," "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon" to mention only a few? He was and is the quintessential director in this genre, working with such film greats as John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, and Henry Fonda. He drew inspiration from a variety of sources, the pulp fiction of the 19th century as well as the stunning paintings by Remington and Russell. As is noted regarding the jacket front, "Ford's use of pale sunshine yellow and sunset red in "The Searchers" (1956) recalls the paintings of Frederic Remington."

Generations of us were enthralled by his films at Saturday matinees; today legions discover him on DVDs. Whatever the case, his legacy is unquestionable.

Chapter headings include:
The Myth of the West
History Transfigured
The U.S. Cavalry and the Scars of War
Ford and the Native American
Monument Valley and Ford's Expansive Vision of the West
The Telltale Signature

Author Peter Cowie is the former international publishing director of Variety, and has penned over 20 cinema focused books, including "The Cinema of Orson Welles" plus bios of Ingmar Bergman and Francis Ford Coppola.

- Gail Cooke

Rip Ford's Texas (Personal Narratives of the West)

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Ride with Rip

Rip Ford's Texas (Personal Narratives of the West)
John Salmon Ford
Manufacturer: University of Texas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 0292770340

Book Description

The Republic of Texas was still in its first exultation over independence when John Salmon "Rip" Ford arrived from South Carolina in June of 1836. Ford stayed to participate in virtually every major event in Texas history during the next sixty years. Doctor, lawyer, surveyor, newspaper reporter, elected representative, and above all, soldier and Indian fighter, Ford sat down in his old age to record the events of the turbulent years through which he had lived. Stephen Oates has edited Ford's memoirs to produce a clear and vigorous personal history of Texas.

Customer Reviews:

Ride with Rip.......2000-08-02

Memoirs may often cure insomnia, but not this hefty chunk of history. Travel back in time with John Salmon "Rip" Ford. Saddle the horses and hitch up your britches, you'll be heading out to the Texas of a newly independent republic. Ride from the Red to the Rio Grande and beyond with the doctor, lawyer, surveyor, journalist, trailblazer, legislator, and celebrated soldier of numerous wars.

Ford takes the reader from the earliest days of the republic to statehood, secession, and on into reconstruction. Meet the intrepid Texas Ranger Jack Hays. Ride from Matamoros to Mexico City with the "Los Diablos Tejanos." Trailblaze a trade route from San Antonio to El Paso with the Ford-Neighbors expedition.

Brilliantly edited by Stephen B. Oates, this personal narrative of a time, place, and adventure, all larger than life itself, is a must read for all who are interested in Texas and its history.

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O Marvelous Model T!: A Diary of a Great Model t Ford Expedition in 1928 from Pittsburgh to the West Coast and Back
John C. Gerber , and Ellie Simmons
Manufacturer: Maecenas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | United States | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
General | Regions | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0944266134

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John Ford and the American West

Manufacturer: ABRAMS HARRY N (THAM
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GYRF30

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A dangerous weapon for the unweary....

Pretty Good

Good But We Didn't Need The Myths

THIS IS THE ULTIMATE AD&D BOOK!

Archer TO WEAK, Blademaster too strong

The Complete Book of Elves (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, 2nd Edition, Player's Handbook Rules Supplement/PHBR8)
Colin McComb
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Complete Fighter's Handbook

ASIN: 1560763760
Release Date: 1993-01-04

Customer Reviews:

A dangerous weapon for the unweary...........2003-01-14

The book gives a good overview to Elven life in general, altough
some of the information is not realy necessary for an accomplished DM.
Beware: If You realy plan to let Your players have their way with all the extra rules given (Str:19 for Sylvan Elves, Bladesinger Kit and Bladesong rules are the most notable),
You'll end up with a threshing machine that can easyly outdo
the rest of the group as a whole and won't be able to find a suitable challenge only too soon.
From level 7/8 onwards, a Fighter/Mage with the abilities mentioned above and equiped with a Stoneskin/Fireshield/Haste/
Mirror Image spell-combo becomes nigh-invulnerable in close combat and will deal out amazing amounts of damage.
So I recomend to be very carefull with these abilities.
In the hands of a strong-willed PC this book endangers the ballance of any campaign.
In the hands of an accomplished DM, it can give a lot more depth to Elven life and culture.

Pretty Good.......2000-08-10

This is a cohesive well-thought-out book. It is organized such that information is easy to find for future reference. It was written in an easy-to-read, interesting style.

It has many new ideas for running an elven campaign, however they tend to unbalance elves. Several new kits are introduced that tend to power-up elves rather than promote role-playing. Probably the best example of this is the blade-singer kit. This is a kit designed for Fighter/Mages which offers a variety of improved abilities for both the Mage and Fighter sides of the class. The major penalty for this kit is a roleplaying penalty, which matters little to powergamers. There is an optional penalty to this kit as well, which is that training a new level takes several years. Using this rule means that the other PC's are going to get pretty old by the time the bladesinger goes up a few levels. This makes them basically useless as a PC kit. According to these rules, the bladesinger is either horribly overpowered, or greviously inconvenient to the other PC's.

This book rated three stars because it did have some useful information and offered some role-playing tips. However, a DM must be careful to weed out the good elements from the ugly.

Good But We Didn't Need The Myths.......2000-06-10

I thought this was one of the best handbooks that htey have written. It gives great information on different types of elves, but did we really need the stories about famous elves? But all in all it was a good book with great subject matter especially on the subject of kits and how the elves live.

THIS IS THE ULTIMATE AD&D BOOK!.......2000-04-23

To start this off I will tell you...This book is a total must have for all elf players. Even as a DM I LOVED this book....It is full of neat info about everything that has to do with elves. I loved the new equipment, and the kits were really neat. Also the book is very accurate about the personalitys and different elf subraces. I think this is the best book in the "Complete Book of ________" series and I took that "Tree huggin' daisy munchers" review as a personal insult. This book sheds new light on the elves, and totally enlightens the wimpy description in the PHB! I loved the illistrations and thouroghly enjoyed reading the myths and rituals. Without this book my party's game sessions would never of been the same. I would recomend this book to any AD&D player, (even those who play Dwarves) and especially all those elven,or who are considering becomeing a elf. It has vital info about how to role-play and elf to its fullest potential. I LOVE THIS BOOK! IT IS WORTH ALL THE MONEY YOU INVEST IN IT!

Archer TO WEAK, Blademaster too strong.......1999-12-02

The book as ok i guess. Im really not into all of the elaborate rituals and things like that. I just wana play the game and roleplay to the best of my ability, this helps alittle i wll give it that. The archer i thought was too weak. It when standing still co uld attack at 3/1 but it NEVER IMPROVED, archers need to be able to fire more arrows as they advance. The blademaster is supposed to be a Fighter/Mage. They don't describe the mage part ATALL. Also the fighter is VERY strong. It is like a BUFFED UP fighter and a normal mage together in 1 class! (cheap if u ask me). Also it dosent give what hd u should roll or what experience table they use. I guess it was ok but lacked details like these

Book Description

In a business era in which executives are taken away in handcuffs and corporate malfeasance and scandal dominates the business headlines, there is tremendous value in the stories of ethical companies and spiritual business leaders. The CEO and the Monk is one such compelling story, the story of KeySpan, the nations fifth largest energy giant and a profitable, Fortune 500 company, and the two KeySpan executives-one a former monk-whose unique working relationship is based on something as simple and powerful as "doing the right thing." This isnt yet another prescriptive business guide written by breathless consultants. It is a story about a real business and how two unusual and dedicated humanists can keep their eyes on profits and ethics at the same time.

Download Description

How KeySpan found phenomenal success by doing business the right way

In a business era in which executives are taken away in handcuffs and corporate malfeasance and scandal dominates the business headlines, there is tremendous value in the stories of ethical companies and spiritual business leaders. The CEO and the Monk is one such compelling story, the story of KeySpan, the nation's fifth largest energy giant and a profitable, Fortune 500 company, and the two KeySpan executives-one a former monk-whose unique working relationship is based on something as simple and powerful as "doing the right thing." This isn't yet another prescriptive business guide written by breathless consultants. It is a story about a real business and how two unusual and dedicated humanists can keep their eyes on profits and ethics at the same time.

Robert B. Catell (Long Island, NY) is CEO of KeySpan Corporation, the nation's fifth largest energy company. Kenny Moore (Totowa, NJ) is a former monk and the Corporate Ombudsman at KeySpan. Glenn Rifkin (Boston, MA) is a veteran business journalist and the coauthor of Radical Marketing, The CEO Chronicles, Radical E, and The Ultimate Entrepreneur.

Customer Reviews:

Spiritual and Business-Savvy? Whodathunkit?.......2006-03-01

I work for an A/V company who does small trade shows and pharmaseutical companies. I ordinarally fall asleep during these presentations, but when Kenny hit the stage with his understated enthusiasm and wisdom about how the bottom lines of profit and spirituality can come together -- and make both bottom lines go up for all concerned -- I was transfixed.

All I do is run a sound board. I get a lot of free books from these shows, and to be honest I sell most of them on EBay.

I am keeping this one.

This should be a best seller!! BUY THIS BOOK!!!! Read why........2005-02-03

I'm not ordinarily a fan of business books, but I fell in love with this story about a company with heart, soul and a strong sense of moral responsibility and community. If we all lived our business lives like The CEO and The Monk, there would be no Enrons and all our bottom lines would be healthy.

There are so many places in the book that pull you up short and make you think, like the Monk's recalling words of Oliver Wendell Holmes: "Most of us go to our graves with our music still inside us." I felt energized reading this book, inspired to start all over again and make a difference. I am sharing this book with my staff. And, I've been buying copies and giving to friends who work in the corporate world. BUY THIS BOOK!!!!

Spiritually, Very Average.............2004-07-22

This book is "ok". If you use the track record of corporations to measure Key Span (Brooklyn Union), then what they've done is good, not great, but good. If you use a spiritual or moral measure, then what they've done is quite mediocre. The main accomplishment is that of the monk, Kenny Moore, who was able to foster direct and non-judgemental communication between the workers and management. This is a good thing and many companies would do well to learn from this example. Key Span does do a lot of charity work, but their motives for doing so, by their own terms of "enlightened self-interest", are just that, selfish. The company pressures average workers to give up their free time to volunteer for charity. The result is that Key Span gets publicity at the expense of their unpaid workers. This is PR on the cheap and takes unfair advantage of the already financially strapped workers. They hire social workers to aid the company in extracting money from customers who are unable to pay. On the surface it sounds good, but it's just a ploy to increase company profits by increasing collections. Much of the book is about the inside scoop on various Brooklyn Union/Key Span mergers and aquisitions, a bit boring. The rest is a lot of back slapping of both CEO and the Monk. There's very little investigative journalism here in terms of exploring contrarian points of view. What Key Span has done is just "ok", not great. They stand out not because of what good they've done, but rather because of what very bad other corporations have done. The bottom line, foster honest communication between management and the workers. The rest of the book is meaningless. It's the same old same old, the workers toil in order to make executives rich. Nothing new. That the CEO and the Monk can't see this is more telling than anything told in the book.

Highly Recommended.......2004-06-21

This book is great for anyone who is a CEO or owns their own business. Not only is it informative but it's entertaining as well.

Thanks for the book Mom!!

Nice Guys (and companies) can finish first.......2004-03-17

Finally, good news from inside the Corporate World! As the media focus our attention on corporate wrongdoing, the show trials of the rich and powerful, stratospheric salaries of greedy CEOs, and the "unaccountability" of managers and Wall Streeters comes a heartwarming and inspiration story of a Fortune 500 company with a soul.

The CEO and the Monk is the inside story of Keyspan's dramatic growth over the past decade, of its hands-on CEO, of the difficulties encountered as the "family" of a 100-year old, conservative utility absorbs the shocks of mergers and acquisitions and grows from $1 billion to $6 billion in revenues, tripling its workforce. All the while maintaining a clear focus on doing the right thing...and blowing the numbers out of the water while not losing its soul, as one financial analyst observed.

Bob Catell, Chairman of Keyspan, one of the nation's leading energy providers, is the CEO in the title. He's a career employee whose soft-spoken style and ready smile hide the tough inner man who created a whole new company amidst the chaos of de-regulation. Tough, smart, caring and candid about what it took to achieve his vision, he points out this was the opposite of the "asset-lite" and high-flying Enron of the 1990s. Same industry, similar starting point, different leaders...much different results.

Kenny Moore was a real monk who after 15 years left cloistered life in the monastery to rediscover himself and pursue a career in the corporate world. Despite the odds of succeeding in Corporate America - no MBA, no useful business experience, and a serious bout with life-threatening cancer and then a heart attack - Kenny signed on in HR and rose to be Corporate Ombudsman at Keyspan. He became the conscience of the company, but not without struggle and self-doubt. He took risks along the way - even brashly staging a mock funeral for key employees as the old Brooklyn Union "died" and the new Keyspan was a-borning.

About the book: This a fast, enjoyable read, with three authors' voices leading you through the pages, with informative and lively stories about corporate and personal success behind the scenes. These are told in the first person by the CEO, Bob Catell, and the Monk, Kenny Moore. There's an interesting narrative thread to guide the reader as well, presented by the third story-teller, the skilled business writer Glenn Rifkin, a former New York Times reporter. This is a warts-and-all tale and belongs on the reading list for senior managers - and those who plan to be CEO one day.

Hank Boerner
Management Consultant
Corporate Governance Advisor
Rowan & Blewitt
Mineola, NY

March 10, 2004

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