Federal Staff Directory Summer 2003: The Executive Branch of the U.S. Government : White House, Departments, Agencies, Biographies (Federal Staff Directory Summer)

Book Description

Praise for the Second Edition . . .

"A basic, how-to guide . . . for all those involved in the construction industry."—The Construction Lawyer

"This book is indispensable for any contractor who, against his better judgment, bids a fixed price contract . . . highly recommended."—David S. Thaler, The Daily Record

"Particularly useful to the construction contractor [and] also instructive to owners and design professionals."—Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities

"Practical advice on how to prevent a dispute—from the moment that the contract preparation begins through performance by the contractor and administration by the owner."—Concrete International

Over two successful editions, Construction Claims has become the sourcebook of choice on the subject for construction professionals from all areas of the industry. Now extensively updated, the Third Edition includes new material on design/build implications for construction; dispute review boards and their proper use; partnering to avoid disputes; and federal and relevant state environmental regulations.

Written by a prestigious and experienced author team, it uses an accessible, step-by-step approach that follows the contracting process from start to finish, with detailed coverage of provisions of the law, "red flag" contract clauses, and documentation issues and procedures. It also addresses the key aspects of prosecuting and defending claims, from claims presentation to formal dispute resolution. Complete with dozens of new forms and checklists, plus case histories, mini-cases, and more, this edition is an essential resource for anyone involved in construction and the law.

Customer Reviews:

Not the best book on this subject.......2007-02-24

After reading that perfect book "Common Sense Construction Law" by Smith, Currrie and Hancock LLP, I wanted to learn more about construction claims and bought this book. However I am very disappointed. I can definitely say that this is not the best book on this subject.

Book Description

This essential reference for any handgun collector or

enthusiast is now updated with current information on the

latest guns and trends in the industry. New models are fully

examined in the reliable, easy-to-use format readers are

accustomed to. The comprehensive catalog section is fully

updated, expanded, and well illustrated, presenting all of

today's commercially available handguns.

Detailed technical information collected from manufacturers is

assembled in this wide-ranging guide. Each listing includes

caliber, weight, barrel length, sights, features, retail price and

more. All the latest semi-custom handguns and commercial

centerfire, rimfire and blackpowder pistols, as well as airguns

are covered. The accessories section covers handgun grips,

sights, scopes, metallic reloading presses, and spotting scopes.

Readers will also enjoy the new feature articles, with

information about cowboy action shooting, long-range

marksmanship, and much more.

Average customer rating:

story of growth and change

Not a bad read at all

Buy it! Read it!! You'll love it!!!

A realistic and positive view of the SCA

Evenhanded, upbeat, and witty

The Knights Next Door: Everyday People Living Middle Ages Dreams
Patrick O'Donnell
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Here Comes the Reign, Sir Guillaume!: Another collection of warped, wicked and wild stories about medieval history and life in (and around) the SCA.

The Pennsic War: The Video Documentary - Special Edition

Murder at the War: A Modern-Day Mystery With a Medieval Setting

Medieval Tailor's Assistant: Making Common Garments 1200-1500

Medieval Costume in England and France: The 13th, 14th and 15th Centuries

ASIN: 0595325300

Book Description

Travel back in time to the Current Middle Ages, a re-created world of knights in shining armor, lords and ladies, artisans and minstrels with one foot in history, the other in today's modern society. Join a journey through the nation's largest medievalist group, the Society for Creative Anachronism, as it and other groups act out their passion for times long past. Meet the cast of colorful characters who call this re-created world home and follow a young fighter as he struggles to earn knighthood and the crown of the kingdom that serves as his stage.

Customer Reviews:

story of growth and change.......2007-04-02

I remember some of the people mentioned in the book. I left the SCA a long time ago because of lack of time. Every now and then I think about going back into it but I'm geographically isolated. This was a nice look at the SCA and the changes that it makes on people in it.

Not a bad read at all.......2007-02-22

I'm a swordfighter, using real armour and real swords. I found the whole insight into the SCA culture quite fascinating. But I found the best part of this book to be the following of one SCA member from his beginning in the SCA, to him becoming a well rounded person. It was a very interesting, very human story. Being from Australia the SCA movement is no where near as big here, so it was nice to see how the yanks do it.
In the last few chapters the author covers some groups from England. I found this quite fascinating, and I reckon he could do another book on it.

All in all a decent read.

Buy it! Read it!! You'll love it!!!.......2007-01-28

In sooth, it matters not if ye be SCAdian or mundane, this book will delight and inform ye. Partick O'Donnell's "voice" is a perfect balance between jaded old-timer and wide-eyed newbie, to what we call "The Dream". His observations are spot on, and witty. His appraisal is honest, neither sugar-coating the bad bits nor over-stating the good bits. As a long time player in the SCA (16 years and counting) I can vouche for the authenticity of his descriptions and his analyses. Great fun, and a good read!! I agree...buy TWO COPIES! One to read and one to loan. Your friends will thank you, and who knows...they might even come to war with you. Highly recommended. Hie thee to thy Shopping Cart and there addeth this book! Disappointed thou shall not be.

A realistic and positive view of the SCA.......2006-03-15

For anyone who wants to know what the Society for Creative Anachronism is all about, this book is **really** worth reading.

It's a remarkably realistic, positive, yet still warts-and-all view of the SCA. Plus, it's written darn well.

It really drives home the fact that the SCA has grown steadily more history- and authenticity-oriented since its roots as a backyard costume party, but it **still** contains several fantasy elements... and likely *always* will.

The SCA is much more flexible and inclusive than most historical recreation groups, so you're always going to have the Tuchux and other groups playing within the Society that aren't strictly historical or fit within the SCA's designation as a pre-17th Century history reenactment organization.

Yes, the involvement of these fringe groups can make a number of us who are concerned about historical accuracy double-clutch at times and we strongly feel that it lessens our credibility with Academia... but I think those groups' involvement also stops us from taking things too seriously. I believe the sheer variety and diversity of folks and their interests is one of our greatest strengths -- we offer many things to many people.

Although the focus of the book is on the Middle Kingdom (midwest United States), the author does interview folks all over the nation. It has *tons* of wonderful interviews with folks from all periods of the group's development (Fleig, Diana Paxson, Ice Falcon, Cariadoc of the Bow, Roak, Alys Katherine...) Their stories made me laugh, gasp, and literally sometimes cry.

I also really appreciated the fact that the book gave me -- someone who has never donned a helm and fought with heavy weapons -- a better appreciation of how and why fighters do what they do.

I used to waterbear a lot when I first joined the Society and I basically looked at heavy weapons fighting as though it was just another type of martial arts competition, as though I was watching an aikido demonstration or a karate tournament.

This book helped me glimpse that there's a lot more to the mindset and the practice of heavy weapons fighting.

Evenhanded, upbeat, and witty.......2006-01-19

This was one of those books that I had to force myself to put down so that I could get at least a few hours of sleep before going to work in the morning. The author takes an initially skeptical journey into the "Known World" of the SCA so he can write this book, but he eventually becomes just as enthusiastic as every other person who dons the garb and travels back in time. The author's account does not neglect certain negative aspects of the SCA either, but manages to paint a concise, yet detailed picture of what goes on in this uniqe, yet large organization. The author's style of writing is informal, yet engaging, making references to everything from Henry V to Monty Python, full of tongue-in-cheek humor and wit. Additionally, his narrative of Valharic and his quest for the crown is one that can tug on your heartstrings, regardless of your interest in the SCA. This is definitely a must-read for anyone who enjoys or is curious about the SCA.

Book Description

Mies van der Rohe erbaute 1945–50 das Wochenendhaus "Farnsworth House” in Plano, Illinois. Das Glas- und Stahlhaus liegt an einem Fluß in natürlicher Umgebung und besticht durch seine klaren Proportionen und die Reduktion auf das Nötige. Es nimmt unmittelbaren Bezug zu der umliegenden Landschaft. Werner Blaser, Mitarbeiter Mies van der Rohes, liefert eine sorgfältige, von persönlichen Erfahrungen geprägte Beschreibung dieses Hauses. Neben Erläuterungen zu Architektur und Technik werden persönliche Erlebnisse mit Mies van der Rohe und Eindrücke Peter Palumbos, ehemaliger Bewohner des "Farnsworth House”, eingebracht. Teilweise unpublizierte Fotos, welche über einen Zeitraum von mehreren Jahrzehnten hinweg von Blaser aufgenommen wurden, vermitteln einen umfassenden Eindruck von diesem Gebäude.

Customer Reviews:

Black and white photos work very well.......2007-05-12

I love the Fansworth House but I've not been there yet. The book shows us full of images of the masterpiece and takes us into the house imaginarily. Black and white photos work very much and some Mies's drawings are also helpful to understand how the house was beyond the notions. It is still quite new and less is more, of course.
Yoko Lewis, Berkeley in Califorinia

more with less.......2001-07-11

a magnificient book about the last domestic project built by mies, where an extraordinary complexity of details results in a very simple home. truly the work of a lifetime achievement.

Average customer rating:

a must read

Poorly Written

Book should be retitled

LIVING AGAIN!!!

Non-Hormonal Alternatives

Menopause And The Mind: The Complete Guide to Coping with the Cognitive Effects of Perimenopause and Menopause-Including Memory Loss, Foggy Thin
Claire L. Warga Ph.D.
Manufacturer: FIRESIDE BOOKS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Aging | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Women's Health | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Menopause | Women's Health | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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Could It Be...Perimenopause?: How Women 35-50 Can Overcome Forgetfulness, Mood Swings, Insomnia, Weight Gain, Sexual Dysfunction and Other Telltale Signs of Hormonal Imbalance

Mind Over Menopause : The Complete Mind/Body Approach to Coping with Menopause

Before the Change : Taking Charge of Your Perimenopause

The Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing During the Change

Women's Moods: What Every Woman Must Know About Hormones, the Brain, and Emotional Health

Accessories:

Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

Omron HEM-780 Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor with ComFit Cuff

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0684854791

Amazon.com

Has this happened to you? A name that was on the tip of your tongue suddenly disappears from memory. You mean to say one word, and another pops out. You put your car keys down and have no idea where they are a minute later. You search for something and discover it's in plain sight in front of you. Your mind feels foggy. If you're approaching menopause, your brain may be reacting normally to estrogen loss, according to neuropsychologist and researcher Claire Warga in Menopause and the Mind. She immodestly names this condition WHMS: Warga's Hormonal Misconnection Syndrome. Warga gives tools for assessing, understanding, speaking about, and getting competent help for your symptoms. She presents case studies, discusses why this condition is often overlooked, explains the research on estrogen and the brain, and presents options for improving your brain power and reversing WHMS using hormone replacement therapy or nonhormonal approaches. She includes a comprehensive screening test and recommends that you take the results to your doctor. In fact, you might want to take the whole book to your doctor, because a recurring theme in this book is that medical professionals tend to miss, disregard, or misdiagnose these symptoms. --Joan Price

Book Description

Are you between the ages of 35 and 60 and having trouble remembering your best friend's phone number? If this sounds familiar to you, take heart: Claire Warga's help and advice are on the way. In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Warga, a neuropsychologist, identifies the "mind misconnect" syndrome that causes unsettling events during perimenopause and menopause, noting that they are not signs of imminent madness but a natural part of aging. Drawing upon cutting-edge brain research and many never-before-described cases, Warga provides the first scientific explanation for why the symptoms occur and reveals how they can be reversed or alleviated. She provides a self-assessment test to help readers determine whether they are experiencing "mind misconnect" syndrome and offers important information and advice on estrogen replacement therapy as well as non-hormonal treatments that mimic estrogen's mind-boosting effects. Her self-screening test, symptom chart, and treatment measurement technique are important tools every woman can use to assess her condition and progress over time, with or without her ob/gyn.

Customer Reviews:

a must read.......2003-06-22

This book was excellent in helping me understand what was happening to me. It did not do a very good job of covering treatment options. I read Menopause for Dummies which didn't cover my symptoms as well as this book did, but did an excellent job of covering the treatment options.

Poorly Written.......2001-08-21

Dr. Warga may or may not have something to say about menopause and the mind, but for the life of me, I can't decipher her writing. I am amazed that Simon and Schuster let this book see the light of day without more editing. I've never read so many long, tortured, and confusing sentences. Good writing does matter.

Book should be retitled.......2001-06-28

to "Estrogen and the Mind". Claire Warga does an excellent job of compiling the data and cases describing the very real symptoms experienced at this time of life for many women (not all women). Unfortunately, she immediately defaulted to estrogen as the SOLE cure - natural or synthetic. What about the other hormones that decline at this time of life? Why has there not been research on the effects of progesterone and the mind? Research is primarily funded by pharmecutical companies and they hold no patents on progesterone - surprise. We get only half the story with this book. Now most current research has debunked that estrogen is the cure for Alzheimers.

LIVING AGAIN!!!.......2001-04-08

I am 50 yrs. old, and am a 5 yr Breast Cancer survivor. I had a mastectomy and 6 mos.of chemotherapy.My breast cancer was "estrogen"related, but it was also non-invasive, caught very early.With the help of God, I have overcome all obstacles.I also chose reconstructive surgery.Having had chemotherapy,I became menopausal. My quality of life changed drastically,I felt like I was just existing. I enjoyed nothing, nor wanted to be sociable anymore. I felt like I had no emotions.I became very insecure,irritable and negative. I KNEW something was wrong, but I was determined not to accept it as"just getting old".After all my LIFE was just beginning again. I started seeing a Psychiatrist, and went to the library and read Dr.Claire Wargasbook, Menopause and the Mind. All the emotions I had been feeling were in her book! I RAN to my oncologist & gynocoligist.Aftersome blood work, I was recommended by BOTH to get on the estrogen.My whole life has changed in a matter of days,I elected the Estradial patch with progesterone.Within days (2) I felt alert,active and Alive again. I am starting to feel feminine, and wanting to be around people. Suffice to say, at the second session with the Psychiatrist,she told me I did not need to return, my whole outlook had changed! I cannot express the change of positive emotions I have experienced. Instead of existing I am living. Because I am "high risk"so they say, I will continue to be monitered carefully, This has been my decision after researching data on estrogen and the mind, as opposed to estrogen and breastcancer. PLEASE READ DR. CLAIRE WARGA'S BOOK about Menopause and the Mind, IT CHANGED MY LIFE!!!

Non-Hormonal Alternatives.......2001-03-21

This wonderful, sanity-saving book DOES offer a lot of non-hormonal alternatives for dealing with perimenopausal mental fogginess. The fogginess can be very frightening, and because I had breast cancer I'm not a candidate for HRT - I can't even use soy products. I thought I was doomed to several years of confusion, memory & vocabulary loss. Dr. Warga's book not only explains the medical reasons behind all of the symptoms, but also shares coping strategies other women have developed to deal with these symptoms. The fact that the symptoms go away was the best news of all. GET THIS BOOK! It's reassuring and informative.

Book Description

This autobiography is the first full-length book in English on Nicolai Gedda, born in Sweden in 1925 but deeply influenced by his Russian-born stepfather, himself a singer with a renowned Russian emigre choir. A leading tenor throughout the latter half of the 20th century, Gedda is acclaimed both for the beauty of his voice and the rare intelligence with which he uses it; he is perhaps the most versatile of tenors, equally at home in opera and song, and the master of nine languages and a wide range of musical styles. These memoirs, written in collaboration with his wife, comment frankly on the events of his life and on the international music scene, revealing both his serious devotion to his art and his indifference to fame and celebrity. HARDCOVER.

Customer Reviews:

A refreshing look at a real divo........2007-09-02

This for any opera lover is a must. Mr Gedda was one of the great singers between the 1950s and 1980s, he did not take a backseat to any of his contemporary. His book is wonderful reading, it reveals the human side of a great artist and the humility of a grand person. Highly recommended reading, you will be overjoyed.

Entertaining but ............2007-07-06

I found this book to be extremely readable. However, I do not believe Mr. Gedda is as modest as he claims to be. Granted his childhood was terrible, with his father's beatings and his mother's verbal abuse but I find it hard to be completely sympathetic to him. Maybe because he chooses to wipe out his parents' transgressions that he turned out to be more docile than other singers. Not to mention living with his family when he should have flown the coup and still letting his parents control his life long past when he should have stood up on his own. There is something very childlike about him.

He's not the only child to find his mother isn't who he thinks she was. Bobby Darin was an adult when he found out his real mother was his "sister." Damaging, indeed.

What I found annoying was Mr. Gedda never gave a bad performance; everyone was well received while others were less fortunate. Hard to believe. And he's particularly hard on just about anyone who helped him, especially Walter Legge, simply because the man was cold. And all his agents, producers and publicists all were unhelpful.

And his comments about the Met's standards no longer as high as they once had been really galled me. Especially when he said young people aren't so anxious to perform there. Really? I cannot imagine one singer today who would turn down an appearance at the Met and the chance to perform on a broadcast heard around the world. And of course all other opera houses still have high quality performances all the time. No opera house in the world ever had some failures, some bad runs. The Met is still a grand house with wonderful productions. Guess Mr. Gedda never had time to see them.

I would rank this book as self-serving and petty.

Gedda.......2007-02-16

The book is great, and gives us an understanding of what makes Mr. Gedda the artist that he is. I already knew a great deal about Mr. Gedda but it is wonderful to read about his life.

A fine biography of the great Swedish Tenor.......2001-06-20

Nicolai Gedda is one of the greatest Tenors of our time,and especially in French repertoire, he is second to none. This biography is a lovely gift to Gedda's admirers. It was to be hoped that there should be more information and data of his stage performances.

The truth....even if it hurts.......2000-02-27

After reading one of the reviews I wasn't so sure about this book; after all, I have been an great admirer of Nicolai Gedda since first hearing him at the Metropolitan in 1962 and I found it hard to imagine him as "petulant". I decided to take a chance on this book and I was very impressed by the truthfulness that Mr. Gedda has: unless you have been yourself a victim of psychological and emotional abuse it is very easy to state that the person is petty on past wrongs. That does not apply in Mr. Gedda's case at all: it seems like this biography is a form of journelling for him and he has finally been able to let go emotionally of the years of pent-up distress he suffered from the abuse in his family.....something NONE of the loyal fans that we were backstage at the Met had any clue about. Also, the book is very imformative as to his technique and opinions on literature: discography a little sketchy....I highly recommend this book: it must have hurt him to reveal all the suffering he went through, but he released his torment by doing that....and thanks to Aino, Nicolai Gedda has finally found the happiness he deserves, after giving all of us the pleasure of hearing him sing (through years of his inner struggles): read the book--it's worth it!

Lily Pons: A Centennial Portrait.(Review) (book review): An article from: Notes

Average customer rating:

Lily Pons: A Centennial Portrait.(Review) (book review): An article from: Notes
Richard Lesueur
Manufacturer: Music Library Association, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from Notes, published by Music Library Association, Inc. on September 1, 2000. The length of the article is 901 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Lily Pons: A Centennial Portrait.(Review) (book review)
Author: Richard Lesueur
Publication: Notes (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 2000
Publisher: Music Library Association, Inc.
Volume: 57 Issue: 1 Page: 156

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Customer Reviews:

Historical What-ifs.......2004-02-26

In 1971, I was a public high school senior who had dropped out of the Catholic School system after ten years of Catholic indoctrination and an excellent high school education under the Sistine Jesuits. I took an English elective entitled, "The Bible as Literature." Our first reading was "The Passover Plot."

I found the book to be highly interesting in its presentation of the historical facts of the time (history has always been my passion), and its subjective interpretation of the life of Jesus. Keep in mind that my background had been the religous indoctrination of the Catholic Church, which had been the preeminet spiritual and temporal leader of Europe until Martin Luther happened along. Also, keep in mind that Protestants are considered to be heretics of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.

Anyway, my take on the whole matter is quite simple. I am sure most of us remember the old school game where you wisper a message in someones ear and have that person pass it to ten people. At the end of the line you ask the last person to reveal the message, and your original message has been totally twisted around. The same with history. Here we are two thousand years later after Jesus' presumable death at the
"brutal" hands of the Romans whose empire is also dead, and, more importantly, still waiting for his "SECOND COMING" as Christian believers, and no one can really say with sound accuracy if he lived or if he was just a myth.

The bottom line really is quite simple. Regardless of his existence, a religion was started, and our modern world is now caught up in the grips of a terrorist inspired JIHAD. The crusades revisited. Jews against Moslems, and Moslems against Christians---an age old story. Yet, all three religions claim to be descended from Abraham, but are killing each other against the precept of "Thou shallt not kill thy neighbor." The more lethal the weapon, the better.

Oh, and now we have a movie, "The Passion," which is exploiting the violent side of our souls in order to get a message out or is it the old Hollywood story--to make a bigger buck and be the all-time money grosser.

When will we as so-called educated, enlightened humans ever learn that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Sorry, if this was not an exact review of the book, and more like a polemical takeoff of my feelings on the book...but,...

In conclusion, the book does make an interesting read for someone who is open-minded enough to accept or reject the authors precepts. It should be read along with other books on the subject. Like the Constitution and the Bible, it is a matter of one's own interpretation. For historical research, I give it four stars, and for his "subjective" analysis and conclusion, I give the book three stars.

4 stars because it took some real testicular fortitude to.......2003-12-30

write this book in 1965, and to try and provide the thesis with scholarly support. Schonfield does exactly that. I'm not sure I can buy into all of what he is saying, but there certainly exists an aura of plausibility. Indeed, if one reads the Koran and some of the Indian texts that exist, Schonfield's book isn't so revolutionary. Specifically, Indians to this day claim that Jesus is buried in their country. Is it true? who knows, but we do know that contemporaneous writings from immediately after the crucifixtion refer to Jesus in India. Who knows, maybe it is all bunk. I think one thing is for certain--that Gospels as published today, don't match up with their original Greek manuscripts. I suspect that perhaps the truth is somewhere in between the Gospels and Schonfield's view.

Once It Was a Bombshell.......2003-12-26

When _The Passover Plot_ first came out back around 1965, it hit like a bombshell. Right away Schonfield tells his readers that the book is "the outcome of an endeavor which has extended over 40 years to discover who the 'man' (quotes mine) really was. However, rather than publishing this in a scholarly book, Schonfield aims his writing toward the general public in a commercial enterprise. What this means is that the author gets to make unsubstantiated assertions and does not have to field points of view contrary to his own.

So for Schonfield, Jesus became a Galilean who was caught up by his times. There was a great deal of messianic expectancy in Galilee and the Scriptures were reinterpreted to pertain to current events. One can find this same technique in the Dead Sea Scroll pesharim. For the pious in Israel, Rome was the archenemy,
the Fourth Kingdom foretold by Daniel 7. Jesus came to believe that he was the Messiah endowed with the spirit of wisdom. According to the Scriptures, he would die on the cross and then be resurrected. This would save Israel from the Romans.

With meticulous detail Jesus plans his own execution and resurrection. Yes, there would be torture, but that was predicted by Scripture. But crucifixion was not always fatal. Josephus records an interesting story about some who were saved after being crucified. Jesus planned to stay on the cross for only a few hours. He would try to appear dead. The vinegar on the sponge was supposed to be a drug. Then he would try to get into the hands of some close, trusted friends who would resuscitate him. The plan would have worked had not Jesus been thrust in the side with a lance. For a short period of time on Saturday night Jesus regained consciousness and then succumbed.

I have a few objections to Schonfield's book. For the moment I will grant that he was writing as a historian and not as a theologian. Among other things, this allows him to not consider anything which might be known as miraculous.

My first objection is that Schonfield has to account for the formation of the early church. He does this by quickly sketching in a few post-resurrectional stories. The angel at the tomb is really the young man who gave Jesus the vinegar at the cross. The man encountered by Mary in the garden is a Jesus imperson-ator as are the man encountered by the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

All of this was supposed to have been planned by Jesus at least some of which was planned on Saturday night when Jesus regained consciousness for a short period of time. Proposing these posthumous manipulation of events stretches credulity. Moreover the whole theory proposes that there were the Twelve Disciples and then there was an inner circle closer to Jesus. One would think that later traditions would know something more about them than an obscure comment.

My second objection is that Schonfield writes that the Romans were the enemy of the pious of Israel. But on page 143 Jesus manipulates the situation so that the Chief Priests were forced to move against him. Then on page 145 the Chief Priests have bring "strong pressure" on Pilate so they pack his courtyard with their own henchmen. This sounds like Jesus had another opponent than Rome.

Now I will get back to the idea that Schonfield was writing as a historian rather than a theologian. Schonfield is a Jewish Nazorean. He starts out his book with a question that he asked of his "Christian friends" if it would not be enough if they believed in One God and believed in Jesus as his messianic messenger. On page 141 he points out that early Nazoreans knew nothing of Trinitarianism. He concludes Part 1 of his book with a short homily about "the young Jew, there was the Man." So on the contrary, Schonfield permeates his book with his theology.

This book should never have made the explosion that it did.

Apparently it's not supposed to be a fictional book.......2003-06-19

In this book Hugh Schonfield delivers a theory that portrays Jesus as a deceiver who bent the rules in order to fulfill prophecy. According to Schonfield's story, Jesus planned His own resurrection, which was apparently foiled when He was accidentally pierced on the cross by a soldier. However, the disciples--what would a dead Jesus look like anyway? Schonfield asks--wanted so badly to believe in the resurrection that they mistakenly thought they saw Jesus and began what we today call Christianity.

Pity the poor Christians today, Schonfield seems to be saying. Here they are, believing in a nonhistorical fairy tale. If his story is correct, then the Christian is truly the most pitied of all people, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:1ff. But if he is wrong, there is a terrible price to pay. Yet I believe that history shows the swoon theory, the wrong tomb theory, or even the spiritual resurrection theory as much more likely possibilities than what Schonfield has to offer.

In effect, Schonfield is calling into question the integrity of both Jesus and his disciples. Was Jesus really a deceiver? Was He looking for popularity? If so, then why did He not accept the accolades of the people that He received on Palm Sunday and just become their political ruler? Certainly it could have ended no more tragically than what really took place. Jesus' popularity would have given Him an edge in trying to overthrow the Roman government in the Judean region, and perhaps He could have been more successful than the many other "messiahs" who, for the most part, were all unsuccessful and eventually lost their lives. But to claim that Jesus was in this for the power or because He Himself was under dillusional thoughts is not very historical at all.

Another problem with Schonfield's theory is that there were many events not under Jesus' control for this theory to take place. Here is a man whose very birth was predicted in scripture (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2). What He would say on the cross and other circumstances of His death were also very clearly predicted (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53). His life fulfilled these things. Despite His death and the "plot" wallowing in shambles, everything is supposed to work out just right? Are we to believe that Thomas really touches Jesus, but this really wasn't Jesus? (John 20:26ff) So why does Thomas take the gospel message to India and die a martyr's death? To make everything work, Thomas and the other disciples must have been complete dolts, which is the only possible way it would have worked. With Jesus out of the picture, there is no way in the world this could have fooled so many different people, including the more than 500 who saw Jesus at one time (1 Cor. 15:1-7).

All in all, I believe that a person will have to own a lot of faith in order to believe The Passover Plot. If the author was not serious about his research, it would almost be a fun theory. But Schonfield shows how far off a person can get by reading into history and creating one's own "what if" theory. To me, believing in the many eyewitness accounts of Jesus' resurrection appearances, the evidence of the power of changed lives because of this resurrection, and a tomb where no body could be found is a much better risk of faith than believing anything Schonfield has to offer. Unless you're curious to see how Schonfield explains his theory, I just don't recommend this book.

Likely Fiction ... But More Believable Than the Gospels.......2002-11-20

An interesting analysis of the Passion story, this book is most valuable for the background information it gives about the state of the world where and when Jesus lived. The faked death by crucifixion notion seems a trifle far-fetched, but not nearly so outlandish as the story in the Gospels of the return from death and the invention of the notion of the Second Coming to cover up the historical fact that the Romans crushed the Jewish Messiah like a grape, and he did not save his people. Anything that pokes a few more holes in fundamentalism is worth the price of admission.

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