A Few Rare eBooks & Alot Of Great Ones (eBook Compilation)

1. The Two Babylons - by Alexander Hisop 1853 ($18.00)

his volume offers proof for every statement, includ-ing more than 260 original sources of facts, citing title and place and date of publication of each. Illustrated with 61 woodcuts from Nineveb, Babylon, Egypt, Pompeii, and other ancient lands.

There's no doubt about it this book is a difficult read. However, with a little persistence you too can get through this book. This book is certainly controversial, especially in our politically correct society where it is a no-no to criticize anyone or anyone's beliefs. This book compares Roman Catholicism with ancient Pagan Beliefs (primarily Babylonian and Egyptian). It's true you cannot make a direct connection of the two belief systems but the similarities are definitely there for anyone with an OPEN mind to see. Any visitor to the Vatican can see the pagan symbology staring them straight in the face. However, most people would rather bury their heads in the sand than confront the pagan origins of many of today's so-called christian traditions. They fail to consider that if the Bible was their ONLY source for religion, then Christmas, Easter, Sunday Worship, the Trinity, Halloween, and Lent would fall by the wayside since these are not of Biblical origin but man-made traditions and beliefs. Truth is the beginning of knowledge. I would rate this book 5 stars if it were easier to read.

2. The Engineer Corps of Hell-Suppressed Anti Jesuit Documets - by Edward A. Sherman

containing the tactics of the militia of the Vatican. Papal conspiracy against Lincoln

3. Black Pope A History of the Jesuits - by M. F. Cusack 2003 ($26.56)

In Roman Catholic circles, it is well known the Black Pope is the term used for the General of the Jesuits. Those Romanists who do not greatly love the Jesuits use the term to indicate the Black Pope rules the White Pope. This book discusses the change of religious opinion since the commencement of the current century, the influence of the Jesuit and how the Jesuits have been the great promoters of change in the creed of the Church of Rome.

The contents and the deep rooted facts of this book epitomize the years of ignorance mankind has been force-fed with. People should no longer dismiss the despicable way in which so very few have controlled so very many for so long.

My comments are based not only from reading this book but from years of discovery and learning.

It is time to wake up and smell the real coffee.

Read the book. Be very aware. Open your mind. Defeat fear. Do something. Change the world.

4. History Of The Jesuits Their Origin,Progress,Doctrines,And Designs - By G.B Nicolini Of Rome 1854

he author conveys the character and aims of the brotherhood of Loyola. The author says that in no other epoch of history have the Jesuits been more dangerous and threatening for England.

5.Fifty Years in the Church of Rome - by CHARLES CHINIQUY 1886

A testimony of the love of God "to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by [Christ Jesus]"
(Hebrews 7:25), and a faithful warning to the Church of Jesus Christ concerning the treacheries of the
Harlot Church of Rome, is the life of Charles Chiniquy. As a French Canadian youth, Chiniquy was
given the gift of his love for the Word of God by his unconventionally Roman Catholic parents, even
though Scripture in the common tongue had been expressly forbidden by the Council of Trent. Without
his knowledge, the seeds of Protestantism had been effectively sown in him, as desired by the blessed
translating efforts of both John Wycliffe and William Tyndale. "But he that received Seed into the good
ground is he that heareth the Word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth,
some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty" (Matthew 13:23).

Why all the commotion about Protestants historically encouraging the reading of the Word of God,
when both Catholics and Protestants may freely read-- but generally ignore-- the Scriptures today?
"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). Because the Word of God
does not benefit anyone unless it is believed. "For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto
them: but the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it"
(Hebrews 4:2). Worse, too many are oblivious to their false sense of security in a Deceptive Faith that
has not the works of Love. "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor
uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by Love" (Galatians 5:6). [Please read our article, "Is Faith the
Only Condition for Eternal Salvation? Or, The Biblical Doctrine of Justification by Faith" --
http://Whatsaiththescripture.com/Fellowship/Is.Faith.the.Only.Conditio.html --, for an important
clarification of this often misinterpreted concept.]

Chiniquy aspired to the priesthood of Rome, but his joy of being ordained a priest of Rome became "as
if a thunderbolt had fallen upon me when I pronounced the awful oath which is required from every
priest: 'I will never interpret the Holy Scriptures except according to the unanimous consent of the Holy
Fathers' " (excerpt from Chiniquy's "Fifty Years in the Church of Rome"). How unlike Rome's oath is
the Scripture, "20 But ye have an Unction [Greek, chrisma] from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
27 But the Anointing [Greek, chrisma, or unction] which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye
need not that any man teach you: but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things, and is Truth, and
is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him" (1John 2:20,27)!

As a proponent of total abstinence from alcoholic beverages, he was vehemently opposed by his drunken
fellow priests. "For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry,
not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre" (Titus 1:7). He was horrified at the liberties taken
by the priests of Rome, especially with their female confessors, who were required to confess their most
intimate faults to the ears of a man, in the name of Auricular Confession. "For it is a shame even to
speak of those things which are done of them in secret" (Ephesians 5:12). He led an effort to bring
Catholicism to the United States by bringing in a large colony of French Canadian Catholics to the state
of Illinois. Attacked by jealous priests, Chiniquy was compelled to require the services of Abraham
Lincoln, who ably defeated the Jesuits in open court battle; however, as Chiniquy warned, the Jesuits
would not forgive or forget their wound. Chiniquy later demonstrated that Lincoln's assassination in
"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices" (2Corinthians 2:11).

Suffice it to say that Chiniquy's breaking into the full freedom and liberty of the Gospel was aided by the
whale vomiting its unwanted meal. Rome ultimately excommunicated Chiniquy, but not before he gave
his resignation. The bishop "answered angrily: 'Mr. Chiniquy, I am your superior, I do not want to argue
with you. You are inferior: your business is to obey me. Give me at once an act of submission, in which
you will simply say that you and your people will submit yourselves to my authority, and promise to do
anything I will bid you.' I calmly answered: 'What you ask me is not an act of submission, it is an act of
adoration. I do absolutely refuse to give it.' 'If it be so, sir,' he answered, 'you can no longer be a Roman
Catholic priest.' I raised my hands to heaven, and cried with a loud voice: 'May God Almighty be for
ever blessed'" (excerpt from Chiniquy's "Fifty Years in the Church of Rome"). "So then it is not of him
that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy" (Romans 9:16).

Chiniquy returned to his room to contemplate the enormity of his situation. Taking his New Testament,
he glanced providentially at these words, "Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men"
(1Corinthians 7:23). Gospel Salvation now became very plain to this former priest. "Strange to say!
Those words came to my mind, more as a light than an articulated sound. They suddenly but most
beautifully and powerfully gave me, as much as a man can know it, the knowledge of the great mystery
of a perfect salvation through Christ alone. They at once brought a great and delightful calm to my soul.
I said to myself: 'Jesus has bought me, then I am His; for when I have bought a thing it is mine,
absolutely mine! Jesus has bought me! I, then, belong to Him! He alone has a right over me. I do not
belong to the bishops, to the popes, not even to the church, as I have been told till now. I belong to Jesus
and to Him alone! His Word must be my guide, and my light by day and by night. Jesus has bought me,'
I said again to myself; 'then He has saved me! and if so, I am saved, perfectly saved, for ever saved! for
Jesus cannot save me by half. Jesus is my God; the works of God are perfect. My salvation must, then,
be a perfect salvation. But how has He saved me? What price has He paid for my poor guilty soul?' The
answer came as quickly as lightning: 'He bought you with His blood shed on the cross! He saved you by
dying on Calvary!'" (Chiniquy's emancipating thoughts from his "Fifty Years in the Church of Rome").

6. The papacy and the civil power - by R.W. Thompson 1876

IT has seemed to me, for a longo time, that it was the duty of the people of the United States to make
themselves familiar with the history of the papacy, its relations to the civil power, and its attempted
encroachments upon the rights of existing governments. This conviction caused me to enter upon the
investigations which have resulted in the preparation of this volume-mainly for self-edification; and if the
conclusions I have reached are not satisfactory to others, I shall be content if they are stimulated to make like
investigations for themselves. Having begun and prosecuted my labors from the Protestant stand-point, I am
aware that the partisan defenders of the papacy and its enormous pretensions will assign every thing I have
stated, whether of fact or opinion, to the force of habit and prejudice of education. This prejudice is
undoubtedly strong in all minds; and, struggle against them as we may, we are all apt to be influenced, more or
less, by the current opinions prevailing among those with whom we habitually associate. But as I have not
undertaken to discuss mere points of religious doctrine, or to treat of the dogmas of the Roman Catholic
Church, except in so far as they have been employed to influence the civil policy and action of governments, I
am unwilling to concede myself less able to discover and declare the truth in reference to them than is a Roman
Catholic to understand and describe the true character and tendencies of Protestantism. In the claim of
impartiality and fairness in all such matters, the advantage is on the side of the Protestant. Roman Catholic
writers are led, almost universally, by the very nature of their church organization, into intolerance and
dogmatism. They are always ready to assume, without investigation or inquiry, that whatsoever the papacy has
done or taught firom the beginning is unerringly right and true. They do not employ their individual reason or
judgment to examine for themselves, but are content to accept whatsoever is announced by ecclesiastical
authority. Since the recent decree of the pope's infallibility, this authority is all centred in him. He is made
incapable of error in all that he has declared, or shall hereafter declare, in the domain of faith and morals; and
every member of the Church wins equal infallibility for himself only by the acceptance and promulgation of
this doctrine. Not so with the Protestant. He appeals to reason; examines history for himself; weighs both
evidence and argument; and exercises his owni intelligent judgment in separating right firom wrong, truth fiom
falsehood. While the papacy demands implicit and passive obedience-the entire submission of the whole man,
by the sacrifice of all his sense of personality-Protesthntism encourages and develops this sense by treating
every individual as endowed with the faculty of reason, and as possessing the right to employ it for himself
Manifestly, he who does not do it is mere "clay in the hands of the potter." I have endeavored to obtain the
information upon which my conclusions are based, without concerning myself about matters of religious faith,
any further than as I have found religion and politics mixed up together; and then only to the extent of
ascertaining how far the world has been influenced by the union of Church and State, and what the probable
effect upon mankind would be if that union should again become general and iniversal. My toleration toward
even the most violent and vindictive assailants of Protestantism is such as forbids that I should challenge the
integrity of their motives, or the sincerity of their convictions. I will not quarrel with them about their religious
opinions. These are to be judged of by an Authority far higher than any earthly tribiunal-at the final bar, where
we shall all meet-and by a Judge to whose sentence, whether of approval or condemnation, every one of us
must submit. It is far more agreeable to me to concede, as I readily and cheerfiully do, that there is much in the
antiquity and history of the Roman Catholic Church to enlist our admiration -much that has benefited the world
by the dissemination of good and benignant influences. But if I have found in Protestantism, as it exists in the
United States under the shelter of our popular institutions, that which has disseminated these same influences in
a far greater degree; that which has done more to improve, advance, and elevate the world; and that which, on
these accounts, is to be preferred, it will be found to be because papal imperialism, originating in worldly
motives and founded upon temporal amnbition, has led this grand old church, by means of an external
ecclesiastical organization, far away firom its original apos. tolic simplicity and purity. Such are my habits of
thought-possibly firom professional training-that I have taken but little for granted; but, in order to exercise an
intelligent judgment as far as possible, have examined and weighed all the evidence within my reach, as I
would that bearing upon any controverted point about which I can have no personal information. It is no easy
matter to separate the true from the false in history, either secular or ecclesiastical. It requires the most careful and searching examination of authorities, often in conflict with each other, and sometimes with themselves. It is
not safe to accept all that is recorded as true, or to reject it as false. Nor should that degree of moral evidence
which amounts to positive demonstration be required. We should be satisfied with such proof as establishes the
reasonable probability of any given statement of facts. The degree of evidence necessary to establish a fact, is,
in a great measure, influenced by the nature of the fact itself-always involving the preliminary inquiry whether
it is appropriate or inappropriate to it. Evidence is of but little value unless it satisfies the mind and conscience.
A reasonable man will require nothing more, and should be satisfied with nothing less. The difficulties in
relation to the rules of evidence are greater or less, according to the nature of our experience and observation of
human affairs, and our comprehension of the motives of men and societies. Our common sense is the best and
safest guide, because it is not likely to lead us into those obscure and difficult paths where men are so often and
so unprofitably carried by mere scholastic learning, and from which they can not extricate themselves without
the assistance of those who designedly conduct them there. There are many things entitled to be recognized
without proof. Every thing which partakes of the nature of a public act; general laws and customs; matters
which concern a whole people, or the government of a country; and such things as would naturally happen in
the ordinary course of events-are all of this character. To reject these would be to remove all the foundations
and landmarks of history. It should not be forgotten that, in the investigation of events far removed from our
own time, we are compelled to acquire information of them only through the perception of others, and not our
own. In reference to such events, credulous minds are too apt to give implicit credit to whatsoever is recorded;
incredulous minds, too apt to reject it. To avoid these extremes, we should keep our minds in an evenly
balanced condition-without inclining either to the side of belief or disbelief-so that when all the evidence
accessible to us shall be applied, we may allow the scale to preponderate on that side where the most reasonable
probability lies; that is, where the result is consistent with the knowledge of facts already known to us. These
are recognized and well-established rules of evidence. They govern us in our ordinary intercourse with the
world. And as they have guided me throughout my investigations, I have deemed it proper to state them, that
others may understand the process of my reasoning, and be able to test the accuracy of my conclusions. These
investigations having been prosecuted when all the circumstances connected with the present demands of the
papacy are calculated to impress my mind with their magnitude and importance, I have endeavored to divest
myself of all undue and improper prejudice, and to conduct them in the spirit of toleration and with all
reasonable impartiality. I hope I have succeeded in this, because I have no wish to convey to the minds of
others any belief or impressions except such as may meet the approval of their own reason and judgment. That I
may have erred in admitting or rejecting evidence, in giving too great or too little weight to it when received, or
may have reached improper and unwarrant able conclusions, is altogether probable; fbr, unlike the sup porters
of the papacy, I lay no claim to infallibility, or even to exemption firom ordinary frailty. This is all I claim: that
I have endeavored to be candid, and to state the con victions of my mind as inoffensively as possible; being con
tent that others shall decide for themselves how far they are right and how far wrong. During the celebrated
controversy between Dr. Brecken ridge and Archbishop Hughes, some years ago, the former had occasion to
make a quotation from the catechism of the Council of Trent; and not having the original before him, took it
from the works of Archbishop Usher, one of the most learned and extensively known of the English divines.
Making no immediate question about the correctness of the quotation, Archbishop Hughes thus, in a seemingly
supercili ous air, evaded the matter: "Who this Usher is," said he, "I am at a loss to conjecture. There is an
author of that name; but he does not possess much authority with Catho lics, for the reason that he happens to
be a Protestant arch' bishop."* Illiberality of this kind is calculated rather t1 mislead and deceive than to
discover the truth; and I have not suffered myself to be betrayed into it. I should b slow to conclude that a
Roman Catholic writer is to be dicredited merely on account of his religious belief, or that what a Protestant
says is to be accepted as unconditionally true merely because he is a Protestant. At the risk of swelling this
volume to an undesirable size, I have made extended quotations from different authors, and from the bulls,
encyclicals, etc., of the popes. This is deemed preferable to briefer extracts and condensed statements, because
it furnishes the means of testing the fairness and accuracy both of criticisms and arguments. When I have found
an author manifestly a mere partisan on either side, I have endeavored not to be biased by his influence.
Cormenin, although not a Protestant, seems to me to be too sweeping in his denunciations of many of the popes,
and, * "Hughes and Breckenridge Controversy:" Preliminary correspondence, pp. xiv., xv., xvi. therefore, has
excited in my mind such suspicion of his impartiality that I have adopted his personal opinions in but few
instances. Some of his pictures of the general corruption and depravity prevailing at Rome must be too highly
colored. I know of no reason, however, why he should be any more discredited than other historians upon
general questions of fact. As my inquiries have been prosecuted in the midst of active business occupations,
with the assistance of only a very limited and self-acquired knowledge of classical learning, and with no access
to a single authority or volume beyond my own private library, this book is not designed for the instruction of
the educated classes, who have the means of making like inquiries for themselves. It is intended for the people,
who, in the main, are without these means, and who are the final arbiters upon all public questions. If their
attention shall be arrested by it, and they shall be excited to additional diligence in guarding the civil and
religious rights guaranteed to them by the Government of the United States, it will concern me very little to
know that it has invited criticism, or that I, on account of it, have incurred the animosity and anathemas of such
as pay for the protection our institutions give them by Jesuitical plottings to establish a "Holy Empire" upon
their ruins. R. W. T.

7. The Biblical Count Of The 666 Beast - by Ralph Meyers ($15.99)

The interpretation of this 1,900-year-old riddle will shake the very foundation of every Christian church, challenging all to make a tangible examination of how prophecy is to be understood. Many theologians have gone before trying to solve the meaning of these prophecies, and much of what they say is correct, but there are passages which have eluded them. As the time comes nearer to the end, these elusive truths must come forward. Otherwise, if we go through the time of the end, and have not gained the truths that are intended, then it will have been written in vain. There is very little time left. Do not let these prophecies, that are being fulfilled today, go by unnoticed.

The rich vein of truth was struck by finding in history the right answer to one single facet of the prophecy, and from there, each adjacent truth unfolded itself, until the whole prophecy came to life.

This research would have gone nowhere, except that I have found an affirmative answer in my quest. Attached to this first answer, was the whole line of elements in the prophecy, all neatly following in their order, being reflected in the same historic record. Led by these very elements, I have said of this research, that it wrote itself.

The interpretation in this book is not just a “fanciful idea,” it is the most formidable interpretation that challenges the contemporary views and past interpretations, and is based on pure reality, and it will not simply fade away. It is supported by tangible evidence drawn from history, which anyone can verify. It is the only interpretation of the number 666, that contains its own “Certificate of Authenticity.”

From an early age, I have been known for my exceptional abilities in Mathematics. Although my education did not afford me the opportunity to obtain a degree, I do not feel that God would have given this task to anyone who has a degree. Rather, I have much enjoyed the opportunity to be a simpler person, and have the time to uncover these ancient mysteries

8. Mein Kampf - By Adolf Hitler 1998 ($22.00)

The angry ranting of an obscure, small-party politician, the first volume of Mein Kampf was virtually ignored when it was originally published in 1925. Likewise the second volume, which appeared in 1926. The book details Hitler's childhood, the "betrayal" of Germany in World War I, the desire for revenge against France, the need for lebensraum for the German people, and the means by which the National Socialist party can gain power. It also includes Hitler's racist agenda and his glorification of the "Aryan" race. The few outside the Nazi party who read it dismissed it as nonsense, not believing that anyone could--or would--carry out its radical, terrorist programs. As Hitler and the Nazis gained power, first party members and then the general public were pressured to buy the book. By the time Hitler became chancellor of the Third Reich in 1933, the book stood atop the German bestseller lists. Had the book been taken seriously when it was first published, perhaps the 20th century would have been very different.

Beyond the anger, hatred, bigotry, and self-aggrandizing, Mein Kampf is saddled with tortured prose, meandering narrative, and tangled metaphors (one person was described as "a thorn in the eyes of venal officials"). That said, it is an incredibly important book. It is foolish to think that the Holocaust could not happen again, especially if World War II and its horrors are forgotten. As an Amazon.com reader has pointed out, "If you want to learn about why the Holocaust happened, you can't avoid reading the words of the man who was most responsible for it happening." Mein Kampf, therefore, must be read as a reminder that evil can all too easily grow. --Sunny Delaney

In 1922, just four years after the war to end all wars, an unknown Austrian then living in Bavaria planned a pamphlet to be called Settling Accounts. In it he intended to attack the ineffectiveness of the dominant political parties in Germany which were opposed to the new National Socialists (Nazis). In November 1923, Adolf Hitler was jailed for the abortive Munich Beer Hall putsch along with men willing and able to assist him with his writing. With the help of these collaborators, chief among them Rudolf Hess, the pamphlet became a book. Settling Accounts became Mein Kampf, an unparalleled example of muddled economics and history, appalling bigotry, and an intense self-glorification of Adolf Hitler as the true founder and builder of the National Socialist movement. It was written in hate and it contained a blueprint for violent bloodshed. When Mein Kampf was published in 1925, it was a failure. In 1926 a second volume appeared - it was no more successful than the first. People either laughed at it or ignored it. They were wrong to do so. As Hitler's power increased, pressure was put on all party members to buy the book. Gradually this pressure was extended to all elements of the German population. Soon Mein Kampf was even being passed out to newlywed couples as a gift. Ironically, and frighteningly, by the time Hitler came to power on January 30, 1933, what has been considered by many to be the most satanic book ever written was running neck and neck with the Bible at the top of the German bestseller lists. In his excellent introduction to this definitive American translation of Mein Kampf, Konrad Heiden writes: "For years Mein Kampf stood as proof of the blindness and complacency of the world. For in its pages Hitler announced -- long before he came to power -- a program of blood and terror in a self-revelation of such overwhelming frankness that few among its readers had the courage to believe it ... That such a man could go so far toward realizing his ambitions, and -- above all -- could find millions of willing tools and helpers; that is a phenomenon the world will ponder for centuries to come." We would be wrong in thinking that such a program, such a man, and such appalling consequences could not reappear in our world of the present. We cannot permit our selves the luxury of forgetting the tragedy of World War II or the man who, more than any other, fostered it. Mein Kampf must be read and constantly remembered as a specimen of evil demagoguery that people whenever men grow tired of thinking and acting for themselves. Mein Kampf is a blueprint for the age of chaos. It transcends in historical importance any other book of the present generation. In his translation Ralph Manheim has taken particular care to give an exact English equivalent of Hitler's highly individual, and often awkward style, including his occasional grammatical errors. We believe this book should stand as the complete, final, and definitive English version of Hitler's own story of his life, his political philosophy, and his thwarted plans for world domination. Translated by Ralph Manheim with an introduction by Konrad Heiden. A compilation of Hitler's most famous prison writings of 1923--the bible of National Socialism and the blueprint for the Third Reich.

9. Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, 12th edition, 5-Volume Set - by Timothy L. Gall, Jeneen M. Hobby 2006

Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, 12th Edition, presents easy-to-understand information on 193 countries and dependencies from around the world in 5 volumes. Its 4 country volumes are arranged by global region (Africa, Americas, Asia and Oceania, and Europe) while a United Nations volume focuses on that organization's purposes, principles, and agencies, including the Security Council and Human Rights Commission. Country articles range from 6 to 42 pages and are organized into the following 50 standardized rubrics that allow for easy comparisons across countries: Location, size, and extent; Topography; Climate; Flora and Fauna; Environment; Population; Migration; Ethnic Groups; Languages; Religions; Transportation; History; Government; Political parties; Local government; Judicial system; Armed forces; International cooperation; Economy; Income; Labor; Agriculture; Animal husbandry; Fishing; Forestry; Mining; Energy and power; Industry; Science and technology; Domestic trade; Foreign trade; Balance of payments; Banking and securities; Insurance; Public finance; Taxation; Customs and duties; Foreign investment; Economic development; Social Development; Health; Housing; Education; Libraries and museums; Media; Organizations; Tourism, travel, and recreation; Famous persons; Dependencies; and Bibliography. Each country entry also contains a detailed map, flag, seal, and statistical tables.

10. Historical Atlas of Islam - by Malise Ruthven,Azim Nanji 2004 ($26.60)

Among the great civilizations of the world, Islam remains an enigma to Western readers. Now, in a beautifully illustrated historical atlas, noted scholar of religion Malise Ruthven recounts the fascinating and important history of the Islamic world.

From the birth of the prophet Muhammed to the independence of post-Soviet Muslim states in Central Asia, this accessible and informative atlas explains the historical evolution of Islamic societies. Short essays cover a wide variety of themes, including the central roles played by sharia (divine law) and fiqh (jurisprudence); philosophy; arts and architecture; the Muslim city; trade, commerce, and manufacturing; marriage and family life; tribal distributions; kinship and dynastic power; ritual and devotional practices; Sufism; modernist and reformist trends; the European domination of the Islamic world; the rise of the modern national state; oil exports and arms imports; and Muslim populations in non-Muslim countries, including the United States.

Lucid and inviting full-color maps chronicle the changing internal and external boundaries of the Islamic world, showing the principal trade routes through which goods, ideas, and customs spread. Ruthven traces the impact of various Islamic dynasties in art and architecture and shows the distribution of sects and religious minorities, the structure of Islamic cities, and the distribution of resources. Among the book's valuable contributions is the incorporation of the often neglected geographical and environmental factors, from the Fertile Crescent to the North African desert, that have helped shape Islamic history.

Rich in narrative and visual detail that illuminates the story of Islamic civilization, this timely atlas is an indispensable resource to anyone interested in world history and religion.

11. Lost Libraries - The Destruction of Great Book Collections since Antiquity - by James Raven 2004 ($71.97)

This pioneering volume of essays explores the destruction of great libraries since ancient times and examines the intellectual, political and cultural consequences of loss. Fourteen original contributions, introduced by a major re-evaluative history of lost libraries, offer the first ever comparative discussion of the greatest catastrophes in book history from Mesopotamia and Alexandria to the dispersal of monastic and monarchical book collections, the Nazi destruction of Jewish libraries, and the recent horrifying pillage and burning in Tibet, Bosnia and Iraq.

12. The Power of Gold: The History of an Obsession By Peter L. Bernstein 2004 ($12.71)

Incorporating myth, history and contemporary investigation, Bernstein tells the story of how human beings have become intoxicated, obsessed, enriched, impoverished, humbled and proud for the sake of gold. From the past to the future, Bernstein's portrayal of gold is intimately linked to the character of humankind.

In the first chapter of his book The Power of Gold, Peter Bernstein quotes the immortal words of King Ferdinand of Spain, who once declared: "Get gold, humanely if possible, but at all hazards--get gold." As ensuing chapters reveal, man's obsession with finding, keeping, selling, and evaluating gold has rarely been a humane adventure and has always been a hazardous one. Digging deeply into history's treasury of torrid tales and complicated deals, Bernstein examines gold's lure with an economist's passion for quantification, a historian's eye for detail, and a sociologist's feel for its consequence.

Useless as a metal for most practical purposes, gold originally held value as decoration and adornment for the wealthy ancients. Later, it was minted and used as coins by the Lydians in 635 B.C. That, Bernstein goes on to reveal, put gold on a path from the concrete to the abstract, from evidence of wealth to the standard behind wealth in other forms, and finally to the tenuous place it holds in today's virtual world of credit cards and computer chips. Along the way lie wild stories of lives destroyed, fortunes won and quickly lost, and values transformed: the massacre by the Spanish invader Pizarro, whose small band of men decimated the formidable army of Emperor Atahualpa, "the Inca," through more duplicity than military skill; the roller-coaster ride of the 1890s, when the rippling impact of the Baring Brothers bank crisis in Britain sent the isolated United States into an economic meltdown; and the surplus of the Gold Coast natives of Timbuktu, who willingly traded their gold for much-needed salt, ounce for ounce.

Bernstein is a great storyteller. His accounts of mythological, ancient, and recent history ooze with odd and entertaining details that bring each successive tale of obsession to life. If not for his skill, the sheer volume of events collected here--presented more anecdotally than systematically--would be overwhelming. In the end, though, it is Bernstein's fascination with the power of gold to entangle and entrap its possessors, and its ultimate ability to change the course of entire eras and civilizations, that makes his book as fascinating as it is informative. A dense but entertaining read. --S. Ketchum

13. Operation Eichmann:The Truth about the Pursuit,Capture and Trial - By Zvi Aharoni,Wilhelm Dietl 1997 ($17.90)

On May 24, 1960, David Ben-Gurion, prime minister and founder of Israel, stood before the Knesset and made a startling announcement: "I have to inform the Knesset that, some time ago, Israeli security forces found one of the greatest Nazi criminals, Adolf Eichmann, who, together with other Nazi leaders, is responsible for what they termed the Endlsung Final Solution] of the Jewish question, in other words, the extermination of six million European Jews. Adolf Eichmann is already in this country under arrest and will shortly be brought to trial."

Operation Eichmann, as the pursuit, capture, and trial of the notorious Nazi official was known, stunned the world. Its success was due largely to the unceasing efforts of one man, Zvi Aharoni, an experienced Mossad operative who was a skilled investigator and interrogator. He tracked Eichmann to Argentina, secured photographs that established his identity, and was a key player in the plot to kidnap the exiled war criminal and bring him to trial. Above all, as the sole person to interrogate "the architect of the Final Solution" after his capture, and the man who convinced Eichmann to admit his identity and face trial in Israel, Zvi Aharoni is the only one who knows firsthand what Eichmann actually said—a controversial subject often misrepresented in previous accounts.

Now, for the first time in Aharoni's own words, comes the extraordinary true story behind one of history's most famous manhunts. Daring, dramatic, filled with episodes of breathtaking suspense and intrigue, Operation Eichmann is also a powerful chronicle of conscience and of the never-ending search for justice.

All the intricate planning and preparation, the relentless pursuit of evidence, the constant need to justify time and expense are related with exacting detail. As events unfold, various political, personal, and philosophical issues come into play, focusing not only on a top secret mission, but on the priorities of individuals—as well as nations—during the Cold War era. The startling complicity of those who gave refuge to and provided safe passage for fleeing Nazi leaders reveals an expansive network of global proportions, while the seeming indifference of others is equally chilling. Adding to the tension is the emotional toll imposed on the participants, for whom the operation became a constant exploration of the theme of justice vs. revenge.

A probing, deeply personal account of a real-life undertaking to rival the most breathless cloak-and-dagger fiction, Operation Eichmann is a powerful, compelling reading experience.

"Operation Eichmann has been covered by a wide range of 'literature.' However, in all the books written so far there have been certain constraints which have meant that the writers were not able to present a full and correct picture of what actually happened. There is no doubt that this book represents an objective and authentic addition to the tale of heroism that led to the capture of Eichmann and his standing trial in Israel. Without Zvi Aharoni and his friends, we would never have achieved what we did."

14. The KGB File of Andrei Sakharov - by Joshua Rubenstein,Alexander Gribanov 2005 ($48.04)

Andrei Sakharov (1921–1989), a brilliant physicist and the principal designer of the Soviet hydrogen bomb, later became a human rights activist and—as a result—a source of profound irritation to the Kremlin. This book publishes for the first time ever KGB files on Sakharov that became available during Boris Yeltsin’s presidency. The documents reveal the untold story of KGB surveillance of Sakharov from 1968 until his death in 1989 and of the regime’s efforts to intimidate and silence him. The disturbing archival materials show the KGB to have had a profound lack of understanding of the spiritual and moral nature of the human rights movement and of Sakharov’s role as one of its leading figures.

15. The Making of Byzantium, 600-1025 - by Mark Whittow 1996 ($29.95)

Mark Whittow presents a clear, up-to-date reassessment of the Byzantine empire during a crucial phase in the history of the Near East. Against a geopolitical background (superbly illustrated with fourteen maps), his book covers the last decade of the Roman empire as a superpower, the catastrophic crisis of the seventh century, and the means whereby the embattled Byzantine empire hung on in Constantinople and Asia Minor until the Abbasid Caliphate's decline opened up new perspectives for Christian power in the Near East.
A special feature is Whittow's coverage of Byzantium's neighbors, allies, and enemies in Europe and Asia. He stresses the geographical context of events, often overlooked in other accounts of this period. The origins of Russia, relations with the nomad powers of the steppe world, the competition between Bulgars, Romans, and Slavs in the Balkans, and the frequently ignored region of the Transcaucasus are all given extended treatment. No such wide-ranging work has appeared in English for nearly 30 years, and Whittow's book will be invaluable for all scholars, students, and enthusiasts of medieval history.

16. Unexplained: Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurrences&Puzzling Physical Phenomena - by Jerome Clark 1998 ($29.57)

Clark's new, expanded edition of "Unexplained!" is one of the finest overviews of paranormal mysteries available today. I have been a fan of Clark's since his "Creatures of the Outer Edge" of 1978 (co-authored with his occasional writing partner, the equally dependable Loren Coleman). Clark's clear and professional writing style has only improved over the years. A sly, very subtle wit frequently emerges ("perhaps wisely, he takes this vague idea no further"). Although it's evident Clark's mind is open to most of the phenomena explored in the book, for the most part he keeps his opinions to himself, opting instead to let his reader make his or her own judgement based on the information available.

In scope and organization I found the book slightly similar to Janet and Colin Bord's excellent "Unexplained Mysteries of the 20th Century" of 1989, although that book also explores ghost and goblin-type phenomena whereas "Unexplained!" is concerned primarily with more tangible mysteries. Both are encyclopedic, objective tomes providing a detailed overview of a wide variety of topics. Especially welcome in this new edition of "Unexplained!" is the inclusion of the "Things That Are Not" section, highlighting previously believed legends such as the Bermuda Triangle and Cottingley Fairy Photographs. Also new are numerous "sidebar" discussions of select organizations and important figures in the Fortean world (i.e., Dr. Bernard Heuvelmans, Budd Hopkins, MUFON, CSICOP, etc.). Clark generously criticizes--in a professional manner--certain unreliable "experts" (Von Daniken, Berlitz) and hardcore debunkers, those "thinkers" who claim to be skeptics but instead are nothing more than vehemently closed minds.

This book is a serious, carefully-researched study. Clark has always made it a point to clearly document his sources, which makes it easy for the reader to further pursue an intriguing topic. Another of Clark's strengths is the natural integration of the many witness accounts and narratives, however extreme some of them might be. The information is presented in a manner that encourages the reader to form his/her own deductions. When examining far-fetched phenomena like Fairies, Clark uses a cautionary approach that still manages to remain receptive to the nagging body of stories, accounts, and folklore.

The presentation and layout of the book have been vastly improved over the 1993 edition. It's now much more serious and professional in its look, abandoning the Ripley's Believe It or Not-style cover of it's previous incarnation. The typeface and setting are also significantly improved and much more easily read. Instead of listing the entries in simple encyclopedic format as he did before, he now groups them together in intelligent sections. Considerably more photos and illustrations exist in the present version (although there can never be enough!).

I can recommend this book without hesitation to anyone with a serious interest in these phenomena. Clark is now one of the most dependable, scholarly, and professional voices in the Fortean world

17. Transcendental Magic,It's Doctrine and Ritual 1968 ($26.97)

A discussion that covers almost the entire realm of Ritual and High Magic. Translated by A.E. Waite.

18. Confessio Philosophi: Papers Concerning the Problem of Evil, 1671-1678 - by G. W. Leibniz 2004 ($9.95)

This volume contains papers that represent Leibniz’s early thoughts on the problem of evil, centering on a dialogue, the Confessio philosophi, in which he formulates a general account of God’s relation to sin and evil that becomes a fixture in his thinking.

How can God be understood to be the ultimate cause, asks Leibniz, without God being considered as the author of sin, a conclusion incompatible with God’s holiness?

Leibniz’s attempts to justify the way of God to humans lead him to deep discussion of related topics: the nature of free choice, the problems of necessitarianism and fatalism, the nature of divine justice and holiness. All but one of the writings presented here are available in English for the first time.

19. The Great Powers and the End of the Ottoman Empire - by Marian Kent 1006 ($64.00)

The disappearance of the Ottoman Empire had been foretold since the end of the eighteenth century. But, since it was not finally abolished by the Turkish Grand National Assembly in the newly established capital in Ankara until 1924, in fact it survived its traditional enemies, the Russian and Habsburg Empires, and its disastrous ally, the German Empire, by six or seven years. Moreover, during the First World War, at Gallipoli and Kut, the Ottoman Empire was able to inflict some impressive defeats on its former ally, after 1914 its most ambitious and dangerous enemy, the British Empire.

The mysterious combination of weakness and strength which characterised the Ottoman Empire in its last decades is the subject of The Great Powers and the End of the Ottoman Empire. It contains seven chapters. The first, by Feroz Ahmad, author of the only account in English of the Young Turks in power, deals with aspects of the internal policy of the Empire. In the other chapters F. R. Bridge, R. J. B. Bosworth, Alan Bodger, Ulrich Trumpener, L. Bruce Fulton and Marian Kent describe, respectively, the relations of the Habsburg Monarchy, Italy, Russia, Germany, France and Great Britain with the Ottoman Empire after 1900. Each chapter gives an excellent account of the subject, based on archival as well as printed sources, and there is an extensive and up-to-date bibliography. The Great Powers and the End of the Ottoman Empire, is therefore, indispensable for anyone interested in the history.

Historians whose special interests include the foreign policy, and especially the Turkish foreign policy seek to answer those key questions of; how far did that fall result from Great Power imperialism? Or was it rather the effect of important structural weaknesses within the Empire? What was the nature of each power's interest in the Ottoman Empire and how did those interests differ among the powers? What was the mechanism by which each Great Power made and implemented its Turkish policy? How important was this extensive area of the Middle East for the foreign policy of individual Great Powers? How relevant was this area to the broader international considerations that occupied the Great Powers in these years?

Contents

Preface to the Second Edition v

Preface vi

Maps viii

Introduction 1

1 The Late Ottoman Empire
Feroz Ahmad 5

2 The Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire, 1900–18
F.R.Bridge 31

3 Italy and the End of the Ottoman Empire
R.J.B. Bosworth 51

4 Russia and the End of the Ottoman Empire
Alan Bodger 73

5 Germany and the End of the Ottoman Empire
Ulrich Trumpener 107

6 France and the End of the Ottoman Empire
L. Bruce Fulton 137

7 Great Britain and the End of the Ottoman Empire, 1900–23
Marian Kent 165

Bibliography 199
Index 213

20. Codes: The Guide to Secrecy From Ancient to Modern Times (Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications) - by Richard A. Mollin 2005 ($84.95)

From the Rosetta Stone to public-key cryptography, the art and science of cryptology has been used to unlock the vivid history of ancient cultures, to turn the tide of warfare, and to thwart potential hackers from attacking computer systems. Codes: The Guide to Secrecy from Ancient to Modern Times explores the depth and breadth of the field, remaining accessible to the uninitiated while retaining enough rigor for the seasoned cryptologist.

The book begins by tracing the development of cryptology from that of an arcane practice used, for example, to conceal alchemic recipes, to the modern scientific method that is studied and employed today. The remainder of the book explores the modern aspects and applications of cryptography, covering symmetric- and public-key cryptography, cryptographic protocols, key management, message authentication, e-mail and Internet security, and advanced applications such as wireless security, smart cards, biometrics, and quantum cryptography. The author also includes non-cryptographic security issues and a chapter devoted to information theory and coding. Nearly 200 diagrams, examples, figures, and tables along with abundant references and exercises complement the discussion.

Written by leading authority and best-selling author on the subject Richard A. Mollin, Codes: The Guide to Secrecy from Ancient to Modern Times is the essential reference for anyone interested in this exciting and fascinating field, from novice to veteran practitioner. ---------------------Features--------------------- · Presents self-contained, thorough, and vibrantly illustrated coverage accessible to both professionals and laypersons · Provides an intuitive approach with illustrations to provide an overview of the topics for the general reader that does not require a mathematical approach · Incorporates more than 200 footnotes and 300 references for access to more in-depth information and further reading · Contains all necessary mathematics, requisite probability theory, and exercises organized by chapter in the appendices

It is an excellent book with unique features including more than 370 exercises…
- The Cryptogram, Vol. LXXI, No. 5, September-October 2005

It is an excellent book with unique features including more than 370 exercises…
- The Cryptogram, Vol. LXXI, No. 5, September-October 2005

It is full of engaging detail on the many personalities that have been drawn to this branch of applied mathematics. …This book is a self-contained guide to the subject covering material from basic arithmetic to the foundations of group theory and probability. …Among books at the level, this one stands out for some of its vivid examples. Particularly enlightening is the discussion of quantum computing: rather than merely touching on the subject, Mollin provides a particularly illustrative and detailed example.
-MAA Reviews, Dec. 2005

It is full of engaging detail on the many personalities that have been drawn to this branch of applied mathematics. …This book is a self-contained guide to the subject covering material from basic arithmetic to the foundations of group theory and probability. …Among books at the level, this one stands out for some of its vivid examples. Particularly enlightening is the discussion of quantum computing: rather than merely touching on the subject, Mollin provides a particularly illustrative and detailed example.
-MAA Reviews, Dec. 2005

Richard Mollin has written many books… on cryptography for readers at many levels. I found this to be his most approachable work, and perhaps one of his most educational.
-SIGACT News

Richard Mollin has written many books… on cryptography for readers at many levels. I found this to be his most approachable work, and perhaps one of his most educational.
-SIGACT News

This is an interesting, entertaining and well-composed book. …It was a good idea to collect all exercises in the Appendix G as it makes reading easier for a general reader, while enabling university and college faculty to use the book in teaching courses in cryptography and cryptoanalysis. To conclude it is worth mentioning that all sections of the book are decorated with beautiful quotations.
-Mathematical Reviews

This is an interesting, entertaining and well-composed book. …It was a good idea to collect all exercises in the Appendix G as it makes reading easier for a general reader, while enabling university and college faculty to use the book in teaching courses in cryptography and cryptoanalysis. To conclude it is worth mentioning that all sections of the book are decorated with beautiful quotations.
-Mathematical Reviews

21. The Gale Encyclopedia of the Unusual & Unexplained - by Brad Steiger & Sherry Hansen Steiger 2003 ($255.00)

In 14 chapters, these volumes cover broad concepts from "Afterlife Mysteries" to "Invaders from Outer Space." Each chapter begins with an overview and an outline of the topics and subtopics that are covered. Within the chapters, entries are generally arranged in alphabetical order. Each ends with a further reading list called "Delving Deeper." Glossaries are appended to each chapter and cumulated in volume 3. Occasional cross-references appear in bold type within the text to refer the reader to other entries, but since the set does not have a strict A-Z arrangement, one must use the index to determine where those entries are located. Because of the set's topical arrangement, the index is essential.

The Steigers, prolific writers on the paranormal, have written an encyclopedia for believers. The volumes are meant to "explore and describe the research of those who take such phenomena seriously." Almost everything from mediumship to crop circles is taken at face value. Even Houdini's attacks on phony mediums are interpreted to suggest he was taking on frauds and not real mediums. Fraud does not appear in the index, nor are alternate suggestions of how phenomena could have occurred presented. Only in a few instances is some skepticism applied.

The work covers material of interest to a large segment of the public in a way that is clear and readable. Many works in the "Delving Deeper" sections will provide the beginning student of the paranormal with good starting points. Recommended for medium-size to large public libraries and for academic libraries with comparative religion, folklore, and popular culture collections. RBB

22. West's Encyclopedia of American Law - by Jeffrey Lehmann & Shirelle Phelps 2004 ($1,469.00)

The new edition of this standard legal reference is a worthy successor to the original. The encyclopedia contains a comprehensive overview of American law, covering historical and current terms, concepts, events, movements, cases, and significant persons. New cases, events, and trends have been thoroughly integrated into existing entries. Some, such as Absentee voting, Jurisdiction, and terrorism, have been substantially rewritten, while many others, such as Abington School District v. schempp, abortion, and Judge advocate have new content appended. Omissions from the first edition have been corrected, with new entries for Ralph David Abernathy, Bella Abzug, the Amistad mutiny, and the "abuse excuse" as well as for George W. Bush, Tom Ridge, and Kenneth Starr, of recent import. Of the more than 5,000 entries, 2,000 have been revised and 630 are new. Even the photographs have been updated--different photographs are often used, even when article content is the same.

How were several hundred entries added and others lengthened while only one volume was added to the size of the set? The greatest change seems to be a sharp decline in the number of photographs, tables, and charts. Color has also been eliminated. Nonetheless, the set still contains numerous illustrations that enrich the text and help show the effects the legal system has on individuals. Other changes include the use of italics for the definitions that begin each entry on a legal term, making these easy to distinguish, and the addition of further readings to a majority of main entries. Useful features in both editions include "In Focus" essays on controversial issues, time lines for all biographical entries that show important moments in the subject's life as well as important historical events, a dictionary of legal terms, an index of cases, and a general index. An appendix volume has been helpfully renamed Primary Documents and contains the text of speeches, legislation, and historic legal documents ranging from the Magna Carta to the Treaty with Sioux Nation. The "Milestones in the Law" features, which have the text of landmark cases, briefs, and related documents, have been gathered into another appendix volume. This beautifully edited encyclopedia is highly recommended for high-school, community college, public, and undergraduate libraries. Jan Lewis

23. Fabulous Creatures, Mythical Monsters, and Animal Power Symbols: A Handbook - by Cassandra Eason 2007 ($45.00)

Eason provides an extensive overview of the mythology, legends, and folklore surrounding fabulous and strange fantasy creatures from different lands and ages, from Chinese dragons and the Native North American thunderbird to the demon hounds of Celtic and Norse legend. She describes how in various ages and cultures people have identified with the idealized qualities of wise creatures as a source of power and better understanding of their own personalities and used the behavior of birds and other sacred creatures to gain oracular information in Ancient Egypt and the Classical and Celtic worlds. This book offers both traditional and little known folklore and legend about familiar real life creatures such as the horse, the cat, and the raven and delves into the weird and wonderful world of saints who claimed to change into deer and modern cryptozoological monsters such as Bigfoot, Mothman, and lake and sea monsters, as well as the rationale behind animal or headed deities of the Aztecs, Egyptians, and Celts in whose name people went to war.

24. Milestones in Archaeology: An Encyclopedia - by Tim Murray 2007 ($95.00)

This engaging work uses key discoveries, events, people, techniques, and controversies to give the general reader a rich history of archaeology from its beginnings in the 16th century to the present. Treasures, temples, and tombs; pyramids, pots, and projectile points - the stuff of archaeology has captured people's imagination since the first digs in the 16th century. Although humans have always been fascinated with the past, the formal discipline of archaeology has existed for only 500 years. This book details the surprisingly controversial course of those five centuries. The history of archaeology leads from the musty collections of dilettante antiquarians to high-tech science. The book identifies three major developmental periods - Birth of Archaeology (16th-18th centuries), Archaeology of Origins and Empires (19th century), and World Archaeology (20th century). An introductory essay acquaints the reader with the essence of the science for each period. The short entries comprising the balance of the book are organized around the themes introduced in the essays. Organized around personalities, techniques, controversies, and conflicts, the encyclopedia brings to life the history of archaeology. It broadens the general reader's knowledge by detailing the professional significance of widely known discoveries while introducing to wider knowledge obscure but important moments in archaeology. Archaeology is replete with the visionaries and swashbucklers of popular myth; it is also filled with careful and dedicated scientists.