Aladdin’s Lamp is the fascinating story of how ancient Greek philosophy and science began in the sixth century B.C. and; during the next millennium; spread across the Greco-Roman world; producing the remarkable discoveries and theories of Thales; Pythagoras; Hippocrates; Plato; Aristotle; Euclid; Archimedes; Galen; Ptolemy; and many others. John Freely explains how; as the Dark Ages shrouded Europe; scholars in medieval Baghdad translated the works of these Greek thinkers into Arabic; spreading their ideas throughout the Islamic world from Central Asia to Spain; with many Muslim scientists; most notably Avicenna; Alhazen; and Averroës; adding their own interpretations to the philosophy and science they had inherited. Freely goes on to show how; beginning in the twelfth century; these texts by Islamic scholars were then translated from Arabic into Latin; sparking the emergence of modern science at the dawn of the Renaissance; which climaxed in the Scientific Revolution of the seventeenth century.
#175431 in Books Howard Means 2016-04-12 2016-04-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.00 x 6.25l; .0 #File Name: 0306823799288 pages67 Shots Kent State and the End of American Innocence
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Brilliant and Essential ReadingBy Susan K. NoelThis is a strong; important book -- essential to understanding the times and the impact of this one terrible moment. I've already studied a great deal about what happened at Kent State; and this book gave me so many details that I hadn't known. The research is deep and as complete as research can ever be -- the best thing a history book can ever provide. I was 15 at the time; and I remember. The Neil Young song can still give me shivers; especially the line "We're finally on our own." This book conveys with great accuracy how poisonous the "us vs. them" mentality grew in those years. Who; now; would believe that parents of killed students received letters saying "They should have shot more them." If there is blame to be assigned; if it can't; even now; be called just a tragic accident; then this book does a brilliant job of laying out exactly who dropped the ball; exactly how wrong decisions were made. I was moved; I felt it all again; and I was educated by this book. The writing is clear and rigorous. Absolutely brilliant.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Accurate; fair description of Kent State eventsBy dale walterI thought the book was very well done. At the time of the shooting; I was a freshmen at Kent and was a few hundred yards away at the time of the shooting. Howard Means does an excellent job of explaining all sides to the activities that were taking places at the time. I have always told people that there was not one cause for the shootings; it was a combination of many things from the students; to Nixon; to Rhodes; to the guard and its leadership and training and yes; even to the weather; which had turn into beautiful days after a cold; damp April. The book covers all areas and allows the reader to make up their own mind about the situation. Very well done.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Nearly 50 years later; lessons are still being learnedBy Matt RhodesThe tragedy at Kent State; one of many at home and abroad during the Vietnam era; occurred just two months after my birth. In all the years since; I had not availed myself of the opportunity to learn much about that horrible weekend. It was only after a visit to the campus a few weeks ago - time spent walking in the footsteps of the students and guardsmen - that I was moved to read more. This book is an outstanding account of the prelude; events and aftermath of May 4. The author has done an excellent job of holding both sides accountable for the mistakes that led to the shooting; but at the same time ensures we never forget that; at the end of the day; American troops shot and killed American citizens. The faults are many and the causes are clear; but the loss of life and innocence that day is a tragedy that should have been avoided. The reader will learn a great deal from and about the participants and witnesses; and about the many matches that together ignited a fuse that had already been primed. PBS referred to May 4 as the day the '60s died; this book is an excellent way of discovering just how true that statement really is.
