Product Description

Our neighboring planets may have the answer to this question. Scientists have already identified ice caps on Mars and what appear to be enormous oceans underneath the ice of Jupiter's moons. The atmosphere on Venus appeared harsh and insupportable of life, composed of a toxic atmosphere and oceans of acid -- until scientists concluded that Earth's atmosphere was eerily similar billions of years ago.

Customer Reviews (5)

Empty Rehash at a Middle School Level
I guess you can't tell a book by the cover.I read WHERE IS EVERYBODY (Stephen Webb) at the same time as I read this work.A flying saucer with little green men adorned EVERYBODY whereas a majestic Milky Way galaxy was the selected cover art for this book.The contents, though, was exactly opposite of what one would expect.Where EVERYBODY is erudite, FAINT ECHOES is almost junior high level. EVERYBODY asks, explores and attempts to formulate answers to deep philosphical question / FAINT ECHOES is a light review of well-known knowledge with a dose of politics.

First complaint - the font is huge and there's LOTS of empty space. If the same font as EVERYBODY had been used and the useless, numerous subtitles had been omitted it could have been reduced by half.Second complaint - the science is a stripped down MTV version for those who want quick, glib answers without a lot of serious inquiry.A case in point - the evolution from prokaryotes to eurakyotes is discussed in both books. EVERYBODY offers a vibrant detailed discussion; FAINT ECHOES has a breezy, overview that hurriedly skips to the next subject. EVERYBODY has an extended, in-depth discussion (with multiple illustrations) on the role of amino acids, the building blocks of genes.FAINT ECHOES makes a few references to the subject.It's dreamlike, one of those streams of consciousness where the next thought simply spills out on the page - Mars Rover, Drake Equation, asteroids, evolution, SETI, blah blah.To generate a little interest he throws in such nonsense as ancient astronauts, Roswell, abductions, Velikovsky, Martian "canals", etc

Finally the author admits he is a true believer in intelligent life beyond Earth and issues a call to unite and become brothers and sisters of humanity.Calling all Kumbaya singers for the next rehearsal.My grade:F.

Does life exist anywhere but Earth?
A nice introduction to the nature & requirements for life.

Will we someday find life in our own solar system (outside of earth)? I personally think so. Will we find signs of INTELLIGENT life in the universe?

Food for thought.

A readable but limited introduction to astrobiology
Science writer and science fiction writer extraordinaire, Ben Bova (only people like Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke and Carl Sagan, and maybe one or two others, have done those two things any better) has two primary purposes in writing this book.The first is to bring the general reader up to date on the current status of the search for life beyond earth and the likelihood of its existence. The second is to report (and critique) the state of the political and economic wars pertaining to that search.Along the way Bova updates us on how the solar system was formed, concentrating in turn on each of the planets.He reports on the status of extra-solar planets (over 100 have been discovered as he went to press) and on why it is now believed that life may (in the form of "extremophiles") exist in places previously thought to be completely inhospitable such as deep underground, at the bottom of deep oceans, such as under the ice of Jupiter's moon, Europa, or even in interstellar clouds.

The main strength of the book is Bova's always readable prose; the main weakness is a kind of "introductory" treatment that may be too limited or simplistic for more sophisticated readers.For myself--a reader somewhere between the extremes of novice and expert--I found the book reasonably informative and certainly in no sense dumbed-down.Of course I did not need to be told (as Bova does in a gray sidebar on page 80) that "a meteorite is what is left of" a meteor "if it survives to the ground."Nor did I need to be reminded that "Einstein's special theory of relativity showed that matter can be converted to energy" as Bova does in a footnote on page 67.Or even that living organisms seem to (but do not) violate the law of entropy. There are many other examples of this concession to the beginning reader, but not so many that I was annoyed or felt my time was being wasted.The editors are to be commended for putting most of the elementary material in gray boxes, footnotes, or in some of the eleven appendices.

The book is organized into five sections beginning with what Bova calls "The Path to Astrobiology," and ending with "Tomorrow," in which he laments the lack of consistent funding for space exploration and argues that, if humans are to survive any of the catastrophes likely to strike earth (including the near certainty of the sun's expansion, explosion, and collapse in the very, very distant future) we must learn to live in places other than earth.

For the real afficionado of astrobiology, this book will indeed be much too basic.For the fairly well-informed reader wanting to know just where we are in the search for life beyond earth, there are several better books.Two that I can recommend are, Stephen Webb' outstanding Where Is Everybody?: Fifty Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life (2002), the excellent The Life and Death of Planet Earth: How the Science of Astrobiology Charts the Ultimate Fate of Our World (2002) by Peter D. Ward and Donald Brownlee, and the delightful Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life (2003) by David Grinspoon.Bova includes a discussion of the famous Drake equation and his take on the probabilities implied therein, but if you want the real in-depth treatment read Stephen Webb's book

As far as the politics at NASA and in the Congress of the United States goes, I cannot recommend a better book, but can tell you that Bova's treatment here has taught me little that I didn't know.That the late Senator William Proxmire stupidly bestowed upon SETI one of his infamous "Golden Fleece" awards is old news, as is the fact that Nevada Senator Richard Bryan ridiculed the search for extraterrestrial life back in 1992 and helped to persuade Congress to cut SETI projects from NASA's budget.However Bova does report the efforts of private citizens (notably Microsoft's Paul Allen) to fund SETI projects as well as the efforts of some people at NASA and in Congress to emphasize the possibility of finding at least microbial life under the surface of Mars or elsewhere in the solar system as a means of exciting the public's fancy. If the public's fancy can be sufficiently excited, that will surely persuade our representatives to vote funds to support such projects.

Certainly Bova has a clear understanding of what goes on in Congress.He writes, "Politicians make their decisions for political reasons, not scientific.The first question a politician asks when faced with a decision is, How will this affect my chances for reelection?" (p. 273)

Nothing is going to change that.That is the way a representative democracy works.What needs to be done is to educate the public (and Congress itself!) on (1) the real value of the search for life beyond earth and (2) the real value of being able to colonize, e.g., the moon and Mars.In the first case we have that most beautiful quote from Lee DuBridge (or was it Pogo?) that sets the tone for Bova's book: "Either we are alone in the universe or we are not; either way it's mind-boggling." (p. ix)In the second case we have the specter of any number of earth-confined catastrophes that colonists on the moon or Mars might avoid, such as an unstoppable disease, nuclear warfare, or a huge meteor striking the earth.

Good, but where's the Politics?
I enjoyed this light work of nonfiction, but was disappointed. Bova's insights science-wise are very good, there is very little to do with politics in the the book besides Congess cancelled these missions, this happened when he becamre head of NASA, and so on.

Interesting ideas
Noted author, Dr. Ben Bova evaluates the age old question of whether humanity is alone in this vast universe.Whether he looks back to Copernicus and earlier or to the SETI project, Dr. Bova provides insight into the past and present scientific wars, the religious dogma, and the political benefit/cost analysis skirmishes.The author uses planet earth to make a case that life probably exists on other orbs in the universe and even in our solar system.He argues that life on earth survives hostile planetary environs that for centuries was assumed nothing could live there and bacteria brought to the moon thrives in conditions that would kill humans.Perhaps the Martian icecaps or the Jovian moons will prove to have living organisms.

FAINT ECHOES, DISTANT STARS: THE SCIENCE AND POLITICS OF FINDING LIFE BEYOND EARTH is at its best when Dr. Bova makes the inductive case that we are not alone.The nonfiction is also quite fun to read when it looks into the past to show those times that science clashed with politics/religion.When the book goes deep into the current skirmish over funding something somewhat esoteric and not easy to see the benefits, it is fascinating but loses some of the propulsion that the history and the science provides.Still this is another strong effort by Dr. Bova, who makes no pretense on which side of the debate he supports.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Product Description

That arresting statement sounds as if it might come from a science fiction story. But it is astonishing, exciting fact-as explained by Dr. Ben Bova. In his distinguished career, Dr. Bova has predicted many scientific developments. Now he explores the future effects of science and technology on the human life span and discovers that one day, death will no longer be the inevitable end of life.

Dr. Bova guides readers through worldwide research into the biochemical processes that causes aging and death, and shows what scientists are discovering about stopping, perhaps even reversing them. With crystal-clear prose, Dr. Bova explains how science could maintain the youth and vigor of a fifty-year-old indefinitely and the consequences for marriage and family ties. He also offers provocative thoughts on the tumultuous societal consequences of such biomedical breakthroughs, as greatly extended life spans and virtual immortality transform institutions like Medicare, Social Security, pension plans, life insurance, even the very foundations of work and retirement. Here is a compelling, startling, understandable, and vitally important study of humankind's greatest challenge -- and most tantalizing opportunity.

Dr. Bova guides readers through worldwide research into the biochemical processes that causes aging and death, and shows what scientists are discovering about stopping, perhaps even reversing them. With crystal-clear prose, Dr. Bova explains how science could maintain the youth and vigor of a fifty-year-old indefinitely and the consequences for marriage and family ties. He also offers provocative thoughts on the tumultuous societal consequences of such biomedical breakthroughs, as greatly extended life spans and virtual immortality transform institutions like Medicare, Social Security, pension plans, life insurance, even the very foundations of work and retirement. Here is a compelling, startling, understandable, and vitally important study of humankind's greatest challenge -- and most tantalizing opportunity.Amazon.com Review
Do you want to live to be 200? How about 500? Maybe forever?Ben Bova, famed science fiction author and futurist, predicts thatwithin the lifetimes of many people alive in 1998, molecular biologyand genetics will reveal the secrets of cellular immortality, freeingpeople of the "threescore years and ten" most of us areallotted. Further, Bova asserts in Immortality, we will beliving those long lives in healthy, youngish bodies, subject only todeath by accident. To back up this claim, Bova offers a nice, clearoverview of how genetics has come to the brink of science fiction,made accessible to readers unfamiliar with the terminology through theuse of explanatory sidebars and basic definitions. If you findyourself doubting this prediction, two things might make you reassessyour opinion: (1) Ben Bova was right when he foretold the advent ofthe Internet, solar-powered satellites, electronic books, and manyother wonders of the 20th century, and (2) in an extraordinary 50-yeartime line, he shows how fast and furious technological developmentshave come--including things that would have been deemed impossiblemere months before they happened.After showing how science is layingthe groundwork for achieving incredible human longevity,Immortality examines the ways society, government, theenvironment, and personal responsibility might change in the face ofit. No pessimist or technophobe, Bova assures us that immortal peoplewill (by necessity) become more farsighted and thoughtful about theirlives and the lives of others. The search for earthly immortality hasoccupied humans throughout history ... how long do you want tolive?--Therese Littleton ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

What you need to know without too many details.
I found this book to be an enjoyable and easy read for a layman. Just enough information to "get it" without all the technical details/terminology that only serves to confuse the reader.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know about the state of modern medicine in exploring pathways for achieving greatly extended lifespans. A glimpse at what's coming down the pike that might ENORMOUSLY impact society.

Very readable and important book
It seems to me a great accomplishment that Ben Bova can maintain his conversational style while educating the public and provoking serious contemplation.Reading this book took me only 2 evenings, and it felt like having the author in my living room.I'm not a scientist.I didn't even know there was a difference between life expectancy and life span.Life expectancy has increased because of the percentage of children who now survive to adulthood thanks to medical advances.The human life span referred to in the Bible as threescore and ten (and sometimes fourscore) has really never changed.Until now, or almost now.We are on the brink of understanding cellular processes that cause what we know as "aging" to occur.The author explains in very clear terms the present theories of aging and the research efforts now underway.He also delves into all the moral quandaries involved...this was the area that prompted me to read the book.I wanted to know more about embryonic stem cell research and cloning, and why pursuing these technologies is or is not justified.I am Catholic!The author tries to be civil about religious viewpoints, but can barely manage.His viewpoints are always 100% secular and ammoral.Nevertheless, he presents the arguments of all, and makes his case is a logical manner.I do recommend this book for the nonscientist who wants to explore these issues and pick up a good deal of knowledge about how the research is being done.

A most important and valuable book
How long would you like to live? 80 years? 100 years? 200 years? How about forever? You know, you just might.

Ben Bova has succeeded in gathering the most recent developments in medical science and technology together with the most credible extrapolations of current trends to write a terrific and much-needed book. He has studied the many diverse and often arcane fields of scientific investigation and somehow created a highly readable yet convincing depiction of where life extension research may lead us. He makes acceptable what used to seem unbelievable.

Immortality is not a long book and does not come across as scholarly or academic. It is clearly intended for the popular reader. And yet, I believe it is one of the most important and valuable books to be written within the last 20 years. If it is widely read and discussed, it will go a long way toward persuading the public that they'd better pay attention and begin preparing for the amazing ways in which our world is about to change.

NOTE: Ben Bova is not a medical doctor, but rather a Ph.D. of the liberal arts. The use of "Dr." before his name was probably his publisher's idea, intended to give the author more legitimacy on this topic. I find it disingenuous and needless. Ben Bova is a successful, respected writer of speculative fiction, and is probably as well qualified to write this book as any medical doctor.

Very Informative....But needs a companion book
This is a good book to have if you are interested in stopping aging and living longer. And if you are not afraid of considering the possibility, the probability, of Immortality. But, for me, it does not go far enough. If you buy this book, you would also want to get a copy of THE IMMORTALIST MANIFESTO: Stay Young & Save the World.The author is Elixxir. And it is available on Amazon. It is the only book which gives us a new Immortalist philosophy, worldview, paradigm. Instead of merely hoping that the anti-aging life-extension breakthroughs will arrive in the nick of time to save your life, THE IMMORTALIST MANIFESTO tells what needs to be done to guarantee its timely arrival - for you and me. Bova shows it is scientifically feasible, probable. The Immortalist Manifesto shows how you can make sure it comes soon enough to save your life.

"Old Age and Death are no longer necessary or acceptable. We are either the last to grow old and die, or the first to stay young and live forever.We choose to be the first to stay young and live forever. Our goal is simple: kill Old Age and Death!" -- from The Immortalist Manifesto

Highly informative.
Thoughtful and detailed, this book gives a very good overview of current thoughts, studies and avenues of research on life extension with care given to make the information clear to persons without a science background. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

The Richard Dawkins of Medical Science
I bought this book knowing I would probably agree with it. Turns out I was right.

Detox baths, ear candling, Brain Gym, homeopathy, the MMR scare, nutritionists, moisturisers, vitamin supplements, pharmaceutical companies- they are all myths that are deftly and humorously deconstructed by physician and professional skeptic Ben Goldacre. Most importantly, he presents facts - quotes peer-reviewed papers, looks behind the news reports, reasons on the evidence. The chapter on how big pharma distort the data from clinical studies is worth the price of admission alone. It's easy to read, but it probably helps if you have a background of some sort in the sciences.

However.

Despite any protestations to the contrary, don't ever think Ben Goldacre cares overly much about the people whose myths he gleefully deconstructs. Referring to things that are untrue as a 'vast empire of nonsense', 'hocus pocus' (Brain Gym), 'gobbledegook' (homeopathic remedies) tells me the author doesn't have an entirely objective view. Neither does casting doubt on the intelligence of members of a profession: apparently, nutritionists 'lack the intellectual horsepower to be fairly derided as liars', and journalists that sensationalise news reports are are `intellectually offended by how hard they find science' and therefore 'resentful' of not being part of the progress of science. There is a fair dollop of intellectual snobbery throughout the book.

Skepticism is fine, even healthy to a point. It's foolish to swallow everything you hear. But hard-nosed skeptics usually have more faith than they care to admit - and Ben Goldacre has an almost evangelical faith in evidence-based medicine.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book. And it certainly confirmed some suspicions. I just worry about how Ben Goldacre's unrelenting skepticism has coloured his interpretations of the facts. In the end, books like these really only polarise people into opposing groups. I wish the author was more interested in dignifying the uninformed than bashing people with logic.

Essential Reading for Chronic Pain Patients
This is an enlightening book and I would recommend it to anyone suffering from chronic pain or a long term illness.I myself have suffered from chronic pain and when I was not initially helped by the medical profession I did what most sufferers do and turned to alternative medicine.I wasted thousands on different treatments, I experimented with acupuncture, homeopathy, Reiki, I even went to a quack week long intensive treatment massage/meditation center in Northern California.In fact after attending this clinic I would spend hours every day attempting to meditate in an effort to harness my body's natural healing powers.All of these treatments failed to have a lasting effect.

It was on a journey to yet another alternative treatment that a friend suggested this book available on Amazon. It made me realize what I was doing. When you are in pain you will do anything to get better and you do not asses treatment rationally. Unfortunately many of these treatment providers, just like Gillian Mckeith referred to in the book, create an illusion with impressive titles and links to seemingly impressive institutions. This book has taught me how to assess a treatment and ignore the proganda you find on the internet which promotes alternative medicine.I now know how to asses medical studies and don't just fall for treatments that have the simple stamp of 'peer reviewed'.I question whether there is a control group, if the study was randomized, how long were patients assessed, etc.

This book led me away from bad science to real science and last year I visited a neurosurgeon with real highly impressive medical qualifications.He found three entrapped nerves. I am not pain free but I am making progress as I now know how to tackle my problem.

This book is essential reading for chronic pain sufferers. Chronic pain is huge business and unfortunately the market is rife with opportunists with no medical qualifications selling an apparent solution. The classic approach is often from apparent ex sufferers of chronic pain selling their story,if they can do it you can do it too is the sales line. Having hope is vital when you suffer from chronic pain however this book will allow you to avoid those who prey on it.

good, but bens politics come shing through
hugely enjoyable book (read it in one sitting)i learned so much and was happy to do so.

the only gripe i have was that ben allows his left wing politics the come through too much.
the book is about science, not about how deeply ben is wrong in his naive support of all things
lefty.

otherwise i liked it and would recommend it as a doozy.

neil
(hoping ben doesnt sue me)

Good try but weakly written
As a scientist, the premise of this book is totally valid.Without a doubt there are many examples of bad science.This book validly picks up on some of these example, notably in the health area due to that being the area of speciality by the author. For myself, the book only raised a few new issues most having been known from other books.

However, despite the books' validity on this topic, it was not a great read. Firstly, the writing was poor (the author is clearly a doctor and one wonders if the manuscript was typed from his doctors handwriting).Sentences were often too long, with poor conjunction, poor use of puncuation and repetation in places. (It seemed the book was prepared as separate chapters in times). It was a hard read in places just to read back to check what was being said.

The author had definate positions (bias'?) in the book and ones wonders how this impacted on his examples he chose - despite this being one aspect he was critical of in the use of bad science.

Clearly the author had more than a passing interest in sex (as do most people, me included). However, whether he used this to introduce some humor, I am not sure as it felt more 'seedy' than anything as it didn't, generally, relate to the topic when used.Furthermore, it feel like the author was being holier-than-thou in places, not just a crusade rather a righteouness of being right.There was not a lot of humility shown by the author and one wonders how far this separates him from the people he savagly critiques.

Secondly, the biggest criticism is that his main focus is on four individuals. While the examples were valid, I was curious that the book effectively skips over the gross lack of science skills within large drug companies and other corporates. To me the author seemed to pick on the easy targets rather than try to bring attention to the larger corporations.In this, by the end of the book, I felt the author was being a 'bully', using selective examples. There are some big issues with corporate bad science that needed to be presented as equally, if not more, than these four people were. When corporates - and the media - were critiqued, it was very shallow and weak as they were presented as a group rather than specific entities.

Finally, it was notable that little focus was applied to the internal failings of the science community iself. It is not without cause to consider that the authors feels science is somewhat near perfection (i.e. science has all the answers). In reality, many sciencists are myopic, selfish and self-serving, just wanting to publish articles rather than to ensure the broader integrity of science. The peer journal power structures reinforces this failure that the book did not adequately address, except in passing.

Overall 2 stars, with a margin or error of +- half a star (at a 95% condfidence level).

This Little Red Book Went To the Market.......
So now we've got Quack Journalism.Very few religious institutions to my knowledge on this planet at present have liked the idea of human beings travelling to the stars and rediscovering their cosmic origins and their connections to their multidimensional selves because that'd mean the end of the State as we know it today. This holds particularly true for flat - earth mumbo jumbo , quack journalism and 'punk science'in general- litterary materialist theory as opposed to figurative interpretation. The fraud known as Bad Science is the latest failed attempt by the United States federal government to convince people of the importance of the continuance of the State. That is why this book and the book Voodoo History collapsed. Voodoo history was an attempt to portray human history from the United States federal governments'perspective , so let us get ourselves a little bit enlightened here. What does that mean? That entails basically that this author is no Fyodor Dostovetsky , no friend of the people. Authors that are friends of the people were hated in the 2000's because they were realistic. Artists who protested against mountaintop removal were hated because they were loyal to the communities they represented and because there were no community councils where people could report persons who had misbehaved to the local community. Independent authors were hated also and if you didn't have a BA honours degree from the Open College of the Arts it didn't matter if Leonardo Da Vinci didn't have one - you were still not an artist because the State didn't like you. Now it is the last days of the State and what does the State do during it's last days? It throws everything at those trying to expose it's flaws so that it won't have to face those flaws. It looks something like this - if you blow your feet off and blame it on Al Quaeda ,everyone believes you because you claim to be the United States federal government. But if you try to make money out of thin air and charge interests on it , you are told you can't do it , even though people have been calling it bussiness for centuries. Even though materialism and greed go hand in hand alongside capitalism , people have still not learnt anything from the banking collapse of Iceland or the present collapse of the New World Order. Instead , they learn from physical violence because war is a tool of biology and in a war , counterreaction is the best method available to defeat your enemy. When the enemy handles you over the information , you do not believe it if they told you they were your enemy in the first place , would you? No. This book is quack and so is it's author who's only trying to sell more quack to people the author thinks are guillable enough to take the quack seriously.
For authors such as this care far more about fame and publicity than the truth , because for them , the truth is bad for bussiness. In fact , in a capitalist society the truth is bad for bussiness because fully informed people do not buy products from liars , particularly not quack journalists. We were taught a lot about such people as quack journalists during my high school psychology studies , and yet I permitted myself to be victimized by one individual claiming to be an Ashtar Commander who still claims so even today. I can unfortunately for the author's demand for being taken seriously not see any difference between that person's state , and that presumed 'Ashtar Commander's'obvious mental state. These stupid , dumbass fat flat earthers are all the same. They ate aspartame and they want others to eat it too. They didn't go to gymnastics and so they cover that up and tell everybody on their blog sites how thin they are and if anybody questions them they yell 'I'll call Uncle Sam'. If asked 'who believes you'? They take you to court and in some cases the court actually symphatizes with them. These people want us to believe , excuse me , that there is no such thing as energy when there are energy bills everywhere and when we have whole research fields known by such titles as classical mechanics and so on and which used to be known as physics in the 20th century. Just because your brain doesn't look exactly like mine will not convince me that you're crazy. That's why I find books like this to be basically worthless. I also find it sorry that there are no stricht laws which prevent the publications of nonsense that's designed to promote attacks against homeopaths and alternative healers. I knew a homeopath who failed to cure me. I took that as meaning that I had to go someplace else for a cure and I got my cure. Sometimes science doesn't make right decisions either. That is why I am not 'scientific' - from this author's 'scientific'perspective but rather common - sense oriented. I am all for alternative healing and I also support medicinal healing as well such as when people go to a doctor to have a broken leg. So what is to be told to the brave 14 year old boy who rescues a soldier during WWII and who doesn't give a damn whose side the soldier is on? Well the soldier is sick so the kid goes to a medicinal handbook to search for advise. Now what if the soldier would be rude and thank the kid by calling him a quack because he doesn't have a BA honours degree in bussiness or medicine?
During war , your medical skills aren't questioned if you're proven to be worth of a medicinal expert on some medicinal issue. But after the war or before is a different story. This author knows that. One thing I have also observed about quack journalists and guys like Tony Blair is that they tend to gather around a circle of 20 to 35 or something people , usually 23 or 33 , who will be their 'confirmed witnesses'so that their lies can be continuously passed off as 'confirmed truth'. 'Because that alternative healer's method turned out not to work on that particular patients , I don't have to pay my energy bills'. Well good news Bill , don't do it then. What the bloody heck does alternative healing have got something to do with paying your energy bill? Absolutely nothing! So why are 'Bad scientists'trying to tell us or ask us to believe otherwise? The author of the book Messages was one of the biggest skeptics in his neighbourhood until he realized he had been an experiencer all his life - a communicator between the world of his cosmic family and the people he used to spend time with. But even that did not turn out to be enough to convince Bill that there is a connection between homeopathy and energy bills. Only a smack in the face and several punches into his body that will keep him on the hospital waiting for two whole weeks , unable to make a single move most of the time will do. Or something less dramatic. If these people come to you to haunt you because you're a homeopath whose treatment appears to have failed to cure that patient or this rabbit or this dog , don't run for the hills but FIGHT BACK! So I guess that must be the end of Ben Goldacre. One of them litterally sent me a message on [...] , asking me to believe that Satan was trying to tell me that the Earth is round and not flat! So I told the person that I thanked Satan for letting me know. It would have been far wiser for this funny gentleman mister Ben Goldacre to publish a Kindle book because that would have meant less waste of money and maybe portray himself as a clown on it's front cover. When guys like that talk to me they basically tell the same story - something which has been lied to them and which they decided to swallow hook , line and sinker. Intellectually incapable of comprehending the absolutely undeniable fact that the Earth isn't half , these people still go around preaching far - fetched nonsense in an attempt to re - ly , or lie psychopathologically in ways they will be unable to control for the rest of their lives until somebody they messed up with knocks at the door.
I do like to read books by people or authors who say that they are skeptical on a particular topic and who go where the evidence takes them instead of shutting the door in it's face and telling everybody that they went somewhere.
For a long time I used to think that I hated the United States Federal government without asking myself seriously what that really means - then I asked myself if I knew any of it's officials personally and then I saw that what was really going on was that we're all up against the same enemy and that enemy is not Ben Goldacre. Iceland and the United States are of course miles apart so I realized that what I really hated was the United States Federal Government's policies. We , the generation of that time witnessed the results of insane decision making in high positions of power and attempts to defend such decision making which resulted in such things as quack journalism. Ben Goldacre is just a fork in the road which is significantly small and whose size matters because that means you can pick the fork up and take it to the kitchen where it belongs. It's not my bussiness to prove to this person that there are psychic phenomena or to participate in an argument with him - that'd probably be the bussiness of a boxer or somebody else who'd know how to reply next time he goes froth mouthing personal insults. Then there is the fact that the information presented in books like this is often devoid of much diverse opinions - usually the author examines things uncritically and waits for the reader to pass by that notion and flip flop through the pages. There's nothing wrong in knowing how to cure somebody. The point is , if you've succeeded in curing the person then that is what counts , not whether or not you've got a BA honours degree in quack journalism. So , compared to Bad Science , we're all a manifestation of Infinite Awareness and Infinite Awareness doesn't have to be 'bad science'. It's just an expression , that's all. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

This is a Great Study Book.
I am now in the last few chapters of this book, and I must say, after having fought my way thru other Russian study books, that this is the best book I have ever seen for learning Russian.

Ben was the best language teacher EVER
I was fortunate to be a student of Ben Clark's at UCSC in the 80s. He was a great person and a fantastic teacher. I now am repurchasing this text as it was always the best text for learning this beautiful language. ... Read more

Product Description

Ms. Finkleman is just our boring old music teacher. Or is she?

It all starts with a Special Project in Mr. Melville's Social Studies class: Solve a mystery in your own life. For seventh grader Bethesda Fielding, one mystery is too tempting to ignore: Ms. Finkleman.

Bethesda is convinced that her mousy Music Fundamentals teacher is hiding a secret life, and she’s determined to find out what it is. But no one is prepared for what she learns. Ms. Finkleman used tobe . . . a rock star? Soon the whole school goes rock crazy, and a giant concert is in the works with none other than timid Ms. Finkleman at the helm!

Customer Reviews (2)

Some Serious Goodness
At Mary Todd Lincoln Middle School, Mr Meville the social studies teacher is know for his special project. They can be given at anytime and have nothing to do with the curriculum. The students love them. For the newest special project- Mr. Meville ask his 7th grade students to solve a mystery in their own lives.

Bethesada Fielding decides to solve the mystery that is Ms. Finkleman, the band and chorus teacher.

Bethesda stood and addressed the other kids at the table as if she were making a big closing argument in a courtroom. "This woman is a part of our lives!" She's a part of our community. We take music with her every single day." (Which wasn't true, since music and art alternated, plus there were weekends and everything, but nobody interrupted. Bethesda was on a rool.) "And yet we don't know the first thing about her! Ms Finkleman is a walking, talking mystery, right in our midst.

Bethesada uncovers a secret of Ms. Finkleman. Word quickly spreads that the band and chorus teacher was a rock star. When Principal Vreeland hears about Ms. Finkleman's musical background, she demands that the seventh grade class put on a rock concert for the All County Choral Corral musical competition. Ms. Finkleman doesn't want to but she has no choice.

Bethesda and Ms. Finkleman share the main character spotlight with Tenny who isn't doing well in school. Ms. Finkleman works out a great deal with the two, so Tenny is producing the show. The only thing that can hold Tenny's attention is rock music.

Tenny's mind always drifted back to rock and roll. By the time Melville had let him off the hook and moved on to the next kid, Tenny was already drawing on his shoe. But then the music started. That girl with the glasses, Bethesda was playing a record on a beat up turntable. Tenny dropped his marker and sat straight up, eyes wide open, trying to figure out what song it was. What band even. It was punk, definitely early nineties punk, but who was it? Whatever it was it was awesome. The song was built on a thundering four-four beat, straight up and down with a galloping, snare-rolling drum figure and a really sweet, slippery eighth note bass line. And the vocal - the vocal was insane. The lyrics were garbled and buried in the mix, further distorted by the record player's tinny old speaker. But it didn't matter what this girl was singing. The way she was singing it was out of control. The vocal was delicious, a serious of mad whoops, passionate and atonal and intense.

I picked up this book because of the great cover. As good as the cover is it doesn't hint at the musical goodness that's inside. It all begins with Tenny though by the end all the seven graders rock out. Even Kevin Mckelvey a classically trained pianist who wears a suit to school.This book was some serious fun. I loved it. Winter's writing is fun and clever. The author even sneaks a little heart into the story.

Fun read!
A fun and funny mystery that never stops unfolding. Witty and engaging for readers of any age! ... Read more

Product Description

At turns humorous, irreverent, poignant and tender, The Book of Dads brings together twenty well-known and beloved writers on the subject of fatherhood, offering fathers—or anyone who has been or loved a parent—unrivaled insights into the complexity of fatherhood as it's experienced now. It is a literary reader for the contemporary dad, hip and on point, but with an eye toward becoming a classic for readers return to again and again. Contributors include Ben Fountain, Charles Baxter, Jim Shepard, Clyde Edgerton, Neal Pollack, Rick Bragg, Anthony Doerr, Michael Thomas, Davy Rothbart, Richard Bausch, Nick Flynn, Brandon R. Schrand, Rick Bass, Sebastian Matthews, Jennifer Finney Boylan, Steve Almond, David Gessner, Darin Strauss, Brock Clarke, and Sven Birkerts

Customer Reviews (1)

Finally! A funny, eloquent, moving book for dads!
When I first purchased The Book of Dads, I was thinking more of my own father and my sometimes-wonderful, sometimes-difficult relationship with him. When I found out that my husband and I were expecting a child, I re-read the book from the prospective of a future parent. It lends sanity, good humor, and tenderness to an oft-ignored experience. Moms aren't the only one raising the kids, after all. I'd recommend The Book of Dads for anyone who is a dad, has a dad, or knows a dad. It's good stuff. ... Read more

Product Description
For nearly five years Arthur Agee's and William Gates' remarkable lives were chronicled by a team of filmmakers. Roughly 250 hours of film were devoted to their journeys from the playgrounds to high school competition to college recruitment and -- whittled down to three hours -- it became the award-winning film Hoop Dreams. Now journalist Ben Joravsky vividly brings to light all the richness and subtlety of their stories, and the impact their aspirations had on themselves, their families and their relationships. It is an intimate look, complete with an up-to-date epilogue on the latest developments in their lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Amazing book!
Amazing book!
It is very detailed, telling the struggles of 2 African American teen, having Hoop Dreams, earning their ways to the top, there are many twists also, from pregnancy , to injuries. Living in Chicago, of Cabrini Green, they hassle through gangs and drugs. All kind of things are happening to these teen. Will they reach their hoop dreams? Only you can find out..Buy the book now!

A nice story for young men of any ethnicity
This book is a story of a basketball player who makes his dreams come true with persistence and a ambitious will. It does have some profane words that come about sporadically as your read but the story is not consumed by them. They are in there though so beware if a young child wants to read this story.

Greater Insight into the Hoop Dreams Movie
This is excellent reading if you enjoyed the movie. It just gives the reader a deeper look into the lives of Arthur and William. There is so much detail we didn't get in the movie. In the book, we learn about additional family members and best friends. Who knew William lived with his sister when he started attending St. Joes? We found out more about race relations at St. Joes and that William had janitorial duties at the school to offset his financial obligations. There's more to how William felt about Coach Pingatore. We learn more about Arthur and his relationship with his father. Best of all, there is more about their lives once they begin college. It's a must read for everyone who enjoyed the movie.

Hoop Dreams

Summarized by, Isaac Sarate

Two kids dream of playing basketball is offered a chance to shine. Who will succeed, and who will fail? It all begins in the city Of Chicago; two young athletes are offered to play basketball at a private school. This school is known as a basketball powerhouse.The often required pay for enrollment but since these gifted athletes play basketball and play it well the school pays for the expense. The only requirement to get this scholarship is to maintain a passing GPA.
The young boys by the Name of William Gates and Arthur Aggee are in a documentary of the life in the hood trying to succeed at basketball and life. Arthur comes from rough life of abusive, drug dealing, never there dad. He struggles to adapt to the private school. He soon is released due to failing grades and no money to maintain him enrolled.Arthur returns to his former high school. He never gives up his dream and works on every aspect of his life school, family, basketball, and most importantly his belief in himself. While all the hard times in his life he becomes stronger at basketball proving many wrong.
While Arthur was struggling at the beginning William gates was competing highly at the varsity level as a freshmen. He played 3 strong years for the school school. Offered many scholarships William comes to the point where the S.A.T.S gets in his way of his dreams of playing college ball. His final year as a senior playing basketball was cut short with injury to his knee. Rehabbing his knee while his teams try's to return to state. Will William Gates be able to play again in high school let alone play in college?
The most inspirational part of the story was when Arthur's father really distracts Arthur's focus on basketball and school, with abuse and violent drug dealing lifestyle. He took money from the family and left them with out electricity for weeks. Many troubling times was brought to Arthur but the never gave up or even gave in on his lifetime goal. He studied in the dark and took care of his family. Arthur rose above all negatives in his life and managed to stay focused. He completed his goals. That really inspired me! It taught me no matte what the situation is make best of it and never give up.
The main theme of this book is clearly to never give up. Like what I wrote in the above paragraph, many obstacles might get in your way but, if you're positive and focuses things will workout. Hard work and dedication does pay off in the end.
This book is a book I really encourage people to read. It teaches you the lifestyle of kids in the hood.The troubling time many of those young kids go threw really show you in this book. Life lessons are addressed in many different ways. The kid's choices, the downfall in family, grades, collage, and how it affects you and others. People who have trouble in believing in them selves should read this, and it would make them stronger.

this book is off the hizzy
this story is about two young boys the grew up off the street playing basketball. They both went to the N.B.A. to play basketball and were very good and this was my favorite book of all time and i havent seen the movie but it looks good ... Read more

Product Description

Are you a hooker?

Customer Reviews (7)

Freaking Hilarious!
I bought this as a funny christmas present for my sister, but it was too funny to give away!Instead now it's at my desk at the office.When someone is having a bad day, I just show them one of the postcards and everyone is dying laughing!....you definitely have to have an open sense of humor, but this is just freaking hilarious.

EPIC LOZ
So many lolz were had while flipping through this book. I took a picture of the cover and put it on facebook and even that alone made many people laugh. 100% worth the money. Cute baby animals + hilarious questions = a REALLY good time!

A great laugh!
And a little more risque than "Grandma's dead"

They pages are all postcards, and I wish I wasnt giving it as a gift as I'm dieng to send some of them off!

TOO funny
these books are out of control funny. especially when you actually send them to people. :) get these if you want to laugh and then make other people laugh when you send them off!

So Awkward, It's Hilarious
I bought this on a friend's recommendation and love it!It always elicits laughs whenever I show it to someone.Great item to have in your desk if you ever need to pull it out for a good laugh. ... Read more

Product Description

Avoid the messy confrontations that accompany delivering bad news personally and let one of these cute baby animal postcards deliver the devastating message for you.

Are you afraid to tell your girlfriend that her ass looks fat? Do you need to explain to your nephew that dreams don't come true? Why not let a cute, fuzzy bunny do it for you! We understand how hard it is to tell someone that you're sleeping with his wife, so let a photograph of a duckling sleeping on a teddy bear soften the blow. These perforated postcards answer all of your cowardly prayers--you'll finally be able to tell the truth without ever conquering your fear of confrontation. Let these adorable baby animals supply a silver lining to any bad situation and avoid, a long, tearful afternoon explaining why daddy's never coming home.

Customer Reviews (20)

You'll love it, or be mortified
This book is laugh out loud funny and reminds me of some of the photo collage/captions we used to create in college.

I ordered one for myself and both of my very-sick-minded sisters.

The one teeny downer is that there is no usable postcard like the cover.
Looks like I am going to be cutting it off manually to send it...

Untitled review
Hysterically funny, great gift.For appreciators of dark and cheeky, slightly offensive (to some) humor.

Funny in a twisted way
I really enjoyed this book, but some of the cards could offend some people. Also a lot of people I showed it to just didn't quite get it.

Unbelievably funny
This postcard card book is hysterical. Please keep in mind that it can be very offensive to some sensitive souls. All in all, I don't take offense to anything, so its a really funny postcard book and very inexpensive for a few laughs.

You won't be disappointed
This is a very funny book.I saw it at my friend's house, so I decided to get one for myself.It is nice to look through when you've had a bad day, and it's healthier than booze or ice cream for that purpose. ... Read more

Product Description
In the same way that magicians are intrigued by Houdini, golfers look to Ben Hogan as the Ultimate golfing genius; the most skillful swinger and shotmaker of all time and the master of the power-fade shot."
-- John Andrisani

Hogan was a player whose ball-striking ability was so precise that he literally wore down the grooves in the sweet spot of the clubface. He would concentrate so intensely during play that he could look straight through other competitors, spectators, and even his wife. He was a highly disciplined professional who practiced so diligently before and after competitive rounds that he made his palms bleed and turned the skin to leather. He was Mr. Ben Hogan, the man who, of all golf professionals past and present, had the most influence on the game's techniques since Bobby Jones.

In The Hogan Way, acclaimed author and former golf teacher and senior instruction editor of GOLF Magazine John Andrisani analyzes every aspect of Hogan's techniques to help you improve your game faster than ever before. Tapping into the talent of a shotmaking genius-the purest striker of a golf ball that ever lived--Andrisani shows how to apply the secrets of Hogan's setup and swing to your own game using today's technologically advanced clubs.

As he traces the history of Hogan's commanding swing, Andrisani makes clear which aspects of Hogan's style are worth imitating and which ones are not. Most importantly, this invaluable guide reveals secrets about the Hogan techniques that have never been shared before, including how he shaved strokes off his score and hit his trademark power-fade shot. Here, too, are insights into the master's golfing mind, his practice approach, and his unique course-management skills.

Filled with rare photographs and illustrations that demonstrate the extra-special qualities of Hogan's shotmaking methods, The Hogan Way is your essential handbook for playing good golf.

Still, even with his swing, what separated Hogan from the pack was something internal--his grit, dedication, and focus--and Andrisani addresses that too. His parsings of Hogan's pre-round, post-round, and off-the-course practice techniques are inspirational, revelatory, and quite human in the way they are anecdotally handed down. They paint a portrait of a man who played golf, lived golf, and defined himself through golf, challenging himself to find his own corner of perfection, which, when all the cheering stopped, was as elusive for him as it is for the rest of us. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Good suuplement to Hogan's "Five Lessons."
This is a good explication of Ben Hogan's "Five Lessons" for anyone who is trying to improve his game by applying Hogan's genius. It is kind of a simpler explanation of Hogan's book, with helpful photographs. Written by John Andrisani, who also wrote Fred Couples' "Total Shotmaking."

The Hogan Way??????
The Hogan Way is probably worth the investment in that it has some interesting stories and presents some valid thoughts on the golf swing.Two big points, which the author correctly states were not discussed by Hogan, are tempo and grip pressure.Correct understanding of these two things can really help improve a golf swing.But if you are interested in facts, instruction and a truly accurate analysis of the information in Hogan's two books, Power Golf (PG) and The Modern Fundamentals of Golf (TMF), The Hogan Way is a disappointment.

For example, the author states that in 1953, Hogan won the the Masters, U.S. Open and PGA and that he deserved the ticker tape parade that honored him in Manhattan.He did not win the PGA in 1953.The subject parade celebrated Hogan's return from Scotland where he won the British Open, the dates of which conflicted with the PGA prohibiting him from competing in that event.To me, a devoted Hoganophile since 1955, this is an error beyond comprehension for someone who is holding himself out to be somewhat of an expert on the man.He also mentions that only three men have won four U.S. Opens, amazingly omitting the accomnplishment of one Jack Nicklaus.

In a picture caption he says that Hogan putted "totally with his arms and shoulders," with an upswing striking the upper half of the ball to give it overspin.Contrarily, Hogan says in PG, "... I make sure not move my shoulders... I put with my arms, hands and wrists."That is what I observed him doing at the 1956 U.S. Open.Hogan also says, "Do not try to hit up on the ball to give it overspin.Concentrate on hitting it square, ... straight back... and straight through...".

There are many discrepancies.For example, in the so-called "lost fundamentals," the author claims Hogan didn't tell us about a lateral shift to the left before turning the hips at the start of the downswing.In TMF, he very clearly says, "There must enough lateral movement forward to transfer the weight to the left foot."Watch a video of Hogan and you will see that he shifts laterally and turns simultanously and does not make two complicating movements as the author suggests.Another, the author says Hogan omitted telling about the wide, closed stance he uses.In fact, TMF contains a diagram clearly showing these stance factors.The "lost fundamentals" have merely been overlooked.

The author calls PG a flawed book and seems to associate it with Hogan's early, ineffective swing prior to 1940.PG was first published in 1948.Hogan was the tour's leading money winner in 1940, 1941, 1942, 1946, and 1948, absent from the tour during WWII.We should all be so flawed.I have studied, played, and taught golf for almost 50 years.Although Hogan made modifications to his swing and published them in TMF, The information in PG is as good today as it was when written.There is nothing wrong with the grip which the author claims is too strong; many teachers advocate a strong grip for the average player.There is nothing wrong with turning the right foot out at address; ask famed instructor Phil Ritson whom the author quotes on another subject.And, while Hogan was apparently very flexible and could make a big turn that we perhaps should not try to copy, contrary to the author's comments, Hogan did not overswing as he did in prior years.It would be pretty hard to be the leading money winner for so many years without a controlled swing.

If you really want to know about Hogan, read Ben Hogan, An American Life by James Dodson. If you want a better analysis of the Hogan fundamentals and how to apply then to your game, I would suggest David Leadbetter's The Fundamentals of Hogan.

Rubbish - a feeble attempt to cash-in on Hogan's name
The title of this book suggests interest within, and potential value, for the golf - and, especially, Hogan - enthusiast. But the title is misleading. This book is rubbish.
Clearly it is an "instant" book (and a poor one at that) produced by cobbling together some miscellaneous anecdotes about Hogan alongwith some swing observations by the author. The anecdotes may be of some interest to someone who knows little about Hogan - though more, and better, Hogan anecdotes can be had for free on the internet. And Andrisani's swing observations demonstrate his utter lack of understanding of Hogan's writings about the swing or even of basic golf technique. For example Andrisani - presumably lacking any awareness of Hogan's very well-known reputation as the purist of ball strikers - suggests that one of Hogan's secrets was striking his pitches fat. How does such misleading rubbish get published?
Having subsequently looked at some of Andrisani's other books of golf instruction (sic) it is clear that 'instant', misleading, low-grade fare characterises Andrisani's output.
To properly understand the "Hogan Way" read, instead, Hogan's own unsurpassed books. Alternatively, if you want Hogan second-hand, read Leadbetter's book on Hogan which, though by no means beyond criticism (e.g. too much emphasis on Leadbetter's own swing theories), is at least (in sharp contrast to Andrisani) well-informed and perceptive.

Refines our understanding ofHogan's swing
There are a number of differences between the way Ben Hogan said to swing the golf club and the way he actually swung it.This book nicely nicely dissects these differences.It also outlines a number of 'lost fundamentals' -- important aspects of Hogan's swing that were never discussed in either of his books.Finally, there is an extensive discussion of Hogan's "secret", the move that allowed him to be one of the most accurate ball strikers of all time.Of particular value in this regard are a series of rare down the line photos that clearly illustrate to the keen eye how Hogan kept the orientation of his clubhead consistent thru contact.

The Hogan Way : How to Apply Ben Hogan's Exceptional Swing a
Very dissapointed with this book.Adds nothing new to our knowledge of Hogan as a person or player.Mostly second and third hand accounts that add very little, along with the author's analysis of Hogan's swing based on watching Shell's Wonderful World of Golf (give me a break).Also included for your reading pleasure is a description of a rare "lesson" given by Hogan to a woman in a clubhouse grillroom.Don't waste your time. ... Read more