Book Description
The largest creatures to inhabit the Earth, whales have long inspired awe in human beings. Because they spend almost 95 percent of their time beneath the ocean surface, however, little has been known about their lives--until recently. With advances in technology and more intense study, fresh facts are coming to light about these magnificent mammals, and to be a whale watcher now, says acclaimed author and wildlife biologist Douglas Chadwick, is to have a front-row seat to stunning discoveries.
Chadwick has followed and reported on whales for more than a decade, and in The Grandest of Lives he offers a fascinating insider's view of modern-day scientific whale observation--from data gathering to spirited scientific debate to expedition storytelling. In detailed portraits of five whale species that represent a cross-section of the forms and lifestyles of cetaceans worldwide--the humpback, northern bottlenose, blue whale, minke whale, and orca--Chadwick moves deftly from natural history to more personal observations, clearly communicating his fondness and admiration for these mammoth masters of the sea, as well as the sheer joy of being among them.
Customer Reviews:
What a Grand Book!.......2007-10-08
This is a wonderfully written account of some of the most interesting animals in the ocean, the whales. The author has composed a great book that is divided into well devised chapters that use one whale to explain these giants of the sea.
What a Wonderful Little Book.......2007-05-26
Douglas Chadwick has written and excellent book on several different types of whales but, really, about whales in general.
A wonderful eye-opener to those who just look at them as "fish". These creatures seem to be intelligent beings not far behind us (or maybe far ahead of us). Chadwick brings us into a relationship with them that will change your opinion. This book would be especially good as an excellent summer read for someone in junior or senior high school who may be thinking of their future.
The older I get, the more I realize it's a big world out there and we're just a small part of it. This book makes me feel more militant in protecting our sea-going friends, the grandest of lives.
Chadwick does it again........2007-02-17
Once again, scientist/author Doug Chadwick has written a book that charms with its prose and intrigues with its message. One of the finest nature writers of our time, Chadwick has outdone himself with this book on whales and other cetacea. It provides a wealth of information on these animals that was previously hidden away in scientfic journals. Beyond that, it provides a very personal glimpse of how whale research is being conducted and of the researchers themselves -- how they relate to whales in ways that never make it into technical articles. Yet, best of all is Chadwick's exploration into the nature of whale societies or cultures. Careful not to slip into anthropomorphism, Chadwick deftly graples with some of the most compelling issues of our time, concerning conservation of highly intelligent wildlife. Conventional wildlife management focues on numbers of animals, thinking of each member of a species as being equal to every other member of that age-sex class, then striving to maintain optimal numbers in each class to maximize harvstable yield. Only recently, with in depth studies of known individuals, have scientists begun to glimpse how much chimpanzees, gorillas, bears, and yes whales differ as individuals and groups, and how this affects overall welfare of populations and species. There is no book on non-primate animals to equal this one in trying to look beyond humanity to understand 'minds within the skins of other kinds.'
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Stephen F. Stringham, PhD, Wildlife Biologist
The Grandest of Lives Indeed!.......2006-08-05
When I was very young (about five years old) in addition to insects I was in love with sea monsters- squid, octopi, manta rays, sharks and of course whales. What fascinating creatures! After I became a biologist, specializing in arthropods, I sill found sea life of major interest and so it was that I joined a whale-watching cruise to the Coronados Island off Tijuana, Baja California, that was offered as a side trip after a scientific meeting in San Diego. It was a great experience (we saw about 2 dozen gray whales, including one pod that swam right by us in the late afternoon). Until now I have been generally disappointed with books on the subject of whales as they somehow did not seem to capture the real experience of seeing a whale in real life and in the process express the actual atmosphere of it all.
Douglas Chadwick has changed all that. His book "The Grandest of Lives: Eye to Eye With Whales" is a labor of love and it shows. His descriptions of experiences with, and the biology of, five examples of the Cetacea- the blue whale, the humpbacked whale, the orca, the minke whale and the northern bottlenose whale are golden! He captures the whales, their environment, and the people who study whales, so that you can almost catch the smell of the sea and the cries of sea birds. Most importantly he explores the mysterious lives of his subjects in a way I have seldom seen in any book. This is the next best thing to actually going out on a whale watch and a excellent read in preparation for going out to sea or after you have returned.
Chadwick also investigates the "scientific whaling" industry in which whales are "harvested" for "scientific research" by some of the countries who are members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The meat usually ends up on store shelves, sometimes including meat from species that are not even allowed to be taken for "science." He is pretty accurate in his observations and presents the views of the people who are involved in whaling as well as the reasons against such practices. This activity, along with overfishing of other marine organisms, and pollution and bycatch problems, is rapidly leading to the depletion of ocean life in some areas. However, whales are increasing in numbers along the Pacific coast of the United States and Mexico and a few other places where the whales are better protected.
Whales are wonderful creatures and if, after you have read this book, you are not impressed by them and the need to protect them I would be very surprised. These are indeed, the grandest of lives!
Book Description
North-central New Mexico is a colorful and curiously spellbinding region of the Southwest. Its orange, sculpted canyons, high desert, moody skies, and towns filled with Old World charm, narrow streets, and sleepy adobe houses have lured artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe and D.H. Lawrence.
Zora O'Neill helps you have a truly personal experience in this fascinating region. Suggested travel strategies and lists of must-see sights provide you with real insights so you can decide where you should go, stay, and eat—without hassles or regrets. Zora's travel strategies include the 14-Day Grand Tour, The Best of Santa Fe, Weekend Getaways, Mesas and Mountaintops, American Indian Heritage Tour, and the Seven-Day Art Tour.
Zora details where to hike, bike, shop, ski, fish, and more. Complete with maps, photographs, illustrations, and special emphasis on leading destinations. Ski in Taos, visit Santa Fe's art galleries, eat at world-renowned restaurants, drive the Enchanted Circle, and explore the Jemez, Sangre de Christo, and San Juan Mountains. Moon Santa Fe, Taos, and Albuquerque has the tools you need to create your own unique trip.
Average customer rating:
- Think I'm Hooked on Lee McClain
- my abnormal life, review
- One more time please.....
- Even better
- a bit abnormal
|
My Abnormal Life
Lee McClain
Manufacturer: Smooch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Action & Adventure
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Humorous
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
New Experiences
| Family Life
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Homelessness & Poverty
| Social Issues
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
New Experiences
| Social Issues
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Adventure & Thrillers
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Being a Teen
| Social Issues
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Teen Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Action & Adventure
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Humorous
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
New Experiences
| Family Life
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Homelessness & Poverty
| Social Issues
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
New Experiences
| Social Issues
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Adventure & Thrillers
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Being a Teen
| Social Issues
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
My Alternate Life
-
My Loco Life
-
Studying Boys
-
Super 16
-
The Ocean Within
ASIN: 0843954663 |
Book Description
Fifteen-year-old Rose Graham has never been to school. She's never had a date. She certainly never knew she was gorgeous. She's been too busy shoplifting food, keeping Social Services off her family's case, and taking care of her little sister.
Now, plunged into a foster family in affluent Linden Falls, she's supposed to act normal. But high school parties, first kisses, and writing for the school newspaper just seem trivial when all Rose wants is to get her family back together. At least she has the Altlives computer game to help her cope. And Brian Johnson's broad shoulders to drive her crazy . . .
Customer Reviews:
Think I'm Hooked on Lee McClain.......2006-07-21
Fantasy yet surprisingly realistic
in terms of what teens living in foster care go through.
A quick and funny read ( LOL type of funny).
Could be a fabulous tool for therapists, case managers, adolescent out reach workers, or anyone working with teens or tweens experiencing family problems.
I plan to buy the rest of her books and start sharing them with teens on my caseload.
Thanks for this cool tool.
Beth O'Malley
social worker in the foster care system
my abnormal life, review.......2006-05-06
This is an enchanting story of a teenage girl, and her younger,mentally challenged sisters journey. They did not have a father, and their mother didn't want them, or at least thats what they thought. Either way, they were sent to foster families, and not the same ones. Rose (the oldest), didn't know iof it was even worth living if she wasn't with her sister, she'd taken care of her sister her entire life. Now, her sister has forgotten all about her,and has been attached to her new family.Although Rose is in deep concern about her sister, in order to bring her family back together she's going to have to act normal.She finds out normal means, boys, first kisses, dates, joining the school newspaper, enemies, and finding her beauty that shes been hiding from all those years.
One more time please............2005-04-06
One of the biggest ideas that came to mind was the hardship that this girl has to go through. She has a main idea for what is going on around her and the way the author depicts her in the beginning made me feel sorry for her. She seemed to be sad as she was placed in the multiple situations until she found the truth behind her life-long struggle. I loved focusing on the overall feel of her life. I have a soft spot for girls, being one myself. It gives me a sense of peace when I try hard to think about the amazing things you can write down and still understand what is going on around you.
This book it short and everything but it gave me a sense of peace. I gave this book four starts instead of five because I want to know what happens next, I usually also like more lengthy books. It was a good read though and I recommend it for girls from 10 to 16. Depending on their maturity and their ideas of teenage life. This book told me a great deal about myself.
Even better.......2005-03-30
Without giving anything away, not all stories have happy endings. Life is like that. It's also about choices, consequences, and being willing to take steps. While Rose knows nothing about being normal, she knows what she wants, and she's not afraid to try to get it. She'll stand up to her peers, her foster parents, the witch, and her mother to make sure that her family stays together. The story is a wonderful read.
a bit abnormal.......2005-03-24
Rose hasn't had a great life. Her mom suffers from depression and other problems, so she couldn't take care of her children properly. It's up to Rose to provide for herself and her little sister, Dani, who has downs syndrome. When Rose gets caught stealing, she and Dani get put into the foster care system. Then they get split up. Rose goes to live with the a poster family for normalcy, and Dani gets put in a home run by the wicked witch. They won't let Rose see her sister. Also, her crush Brian is currently Dani's foster brother. Thanks to the computer game ALTLIVES, Rose gets a chance to check up on her family. When her new life gets tricky, will Rose opt to change back to her old life, no matter what the cost?
Average customer rating:
|
Calmodulin & Signal Transduction
Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Biochemistry
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Cell Biology
| Biology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Molecular Biology
| Biology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Biochemistry
| Basic Science
| Medicine
| Subjects
| Books
Physiology
| Basic Science
| Medicine
| Subjects
| Books
Biochemistry
| Bioengineering
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Cell Biology
| Biology
| Biological Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biology
| Biological Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Molecular Biology
| Biology
| Biological Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Biochemistry
| Basic Sciences
| Medical
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
All Amazon Upgrade
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Engineering
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Medicine
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Professional & Technical
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Science
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0127138609 |
Book Description
This book focuses on emerging themes in the molecular mechanisms of calcium signal transduction through calmodulin-regulated pathways. It provides the reader with selected examples and experimental precedents that underlie current models of cell regulation through calmodulin-regulated pathways and their linkage with other regulatory pathways.
Highlights:
* Molecular mechanisms of calcium signal transduction through calmodulin-regulated enzymes
* Selected case studies and precedents related to molecular mechanisms
* Protein-protein recognition between calmodulin and the enzymes it regulates
* Cross-talk and interdigitation with other signal transduction pathways
Average customer rating:
- Good overview of topics on quantitative aspects of genetics
|
Handbook of Statistical Genetics (2 Volume Set)
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Biology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Genetics
| Evolution
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Evolution
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Probability & Statistics
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Genetics
| Basic Science
| Medicine
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Evolution
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Genetics
| Evolution
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Statistics
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Genetics
| Basic Sciences
| Medical
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Medicine
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Professional
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Science
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Statistical Methods in Genetic Epidemiology
ASIN: 0470848294 |
Book Description
From the Reviews of the First Edition:
"This magnificent book attempts to catalogue and introduce all aspects of modern statistical genetics...I can thoroughly recommend it."
Short Book Reviews of ISI
"...extremely well written and referenced work, which must come highly recommended..."
Statistical Methods in Medical Research
- Provides comprehensive coverage of a thriving area of research
- Features nine newly commissioned chapters
- All existing chapters have been fully updated with new advances in the field and new references
- Now includes a glossary of terms, and a list of acronyms and abbreviations.
- Features extensive cross-referencing between chapters.
- Each chapter is written by a leading international authority from the field.
- Complemented by examples, case studies, and references to useful resources on the web.
Customer Reviews:
Good overview of topics on quantitative aspects of genetics.......2001-05-10
The book is a collection of chapters written by experts in their respective fields. It contains both basic topics of genetics like chromosome maps and protein analysis as well as recent developments in evolutionary genetics like coalescence and phylogenetics. The topics on genetic epidemiology like linkage and association cover the main ideas, but the mathematical subtlities are not adequately explained in some of the cases. Since the target audience of this book are statistical geneticists, it would have been more beneficial if more quantitative insights were given. The chapters by Bruce Weir, Nicholas Schork and Ranajit Chakraborty provide some interesting practical applications of statistical genetics. With lots of controversies going around, it is apt to include the chapter on the ethical issues regarding the use of statistics in genetics.
Average customer rating:
|
Springer Handbook of Engineering Statistics
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Quality Control
| Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Statistics
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Probability & Statistics
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Manufacturing
| Quality Engineering
| McGraw-Hill Engineering Store
| McGraw-Hill
| By Publisher
| Books
All Amazon Upgrade
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Engineering
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Professional & Technical
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Science
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 1852338067 |
Book Description
Engineers and practitioners contribute to society through their ability to apply basic scientific principles to real problems in an effective and efficient manner. They must collect data to test their products every day as part of the design and testing process and also after the product or process has been rolled out to monitor its effectiveness. Model building, data collection, data analysis and data interpretation form the core of sound engineering practice.
After the data has been gathered the engineer must be able to sift them and interpret them correctly so that meaning can be exposed from a mass of undifferentiated numbers or facts. To do this he or she must be familiar with the fundamental concepts of correlation, uncertainty, variability and risk in the face of uncertainty.
In today’s global and highly competitive environment, continuous improvement in the processes and products of any field of engineering is essential for survival. Many organisations have shown that the first step to continuous improvement is to integrate the widespread use of statistics and basic data analysis into the manufacturing development process as well as into the day-to-day business decisions taken in regard to engineering processes.
The Springer Handbook of Engineering Statistics gathers together the full range of statistical techniques required by engineers from all fields to gain sensible statistical feedback on how their processes or products are functioning and to give them realistic predictions of how these could be improved.
Featuring:
- Contributions from leading experts in statistics and their application to engineering from industrial control to academic medicine and financial risk management giving all-round authoritative coverage.
- Wide-ranging selection of statistical techniques showing the proper way to use each to enable the reader to choose the method most appropriate for his or her purposes.
- Extensive and easy-to-use subject index making information quickly available to the reader.
The handbook will be essential reading for all engineers and engineering-connected managers who are serious about keeping their methods and products at the cutting edge of quality and competitiveness.
Customer Reviews:
wide variety of topics.......2006-10-13
This Handbook is useful as a concise summary of statistical methods that engineers are likely to need. The chapters are perhaps a little too terse, if you have never dealt with their topics before. But, assuming some prior background, then delving into a given chapter as a refresher can be quite handy.
There is a large variety of topics covered. Including for monitoring quality control in manufacturing processes. Or for predicting reliability of a complex package of software. Unsurprisingly, queuing theory gets a big mention. A longstanding topic for many engineers. Fancier stuff like genetic algorithms also get attention. It is unclear how many engineers actually use this material, however.
One might wonder at the text's price. Out of reach of many students, though perhaps not for practising engineers.
Average customer rating:
|
Handbook of Estimation Methods in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Chemistry (Environmental and Ecological Modeling)
Sven E. Jorgensen ,
B. Halling Sorensen , and
Henrik Mahler
Manufacturer: CRC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Industrial & Technical
| Chemistry
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Environmental Science
| Earth Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Nature & Ecology
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ecology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Ecotoxicology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Environmental
| Civil
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Ecology
| Biological Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Environmental Science
| Earth Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Clinical Chemistry
| Pathology
| Internal Medicine
| Medicine
| Medical
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Toxicology
| Pharmacology
| Medical
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Toxicology
| Pharmacology
| Medicine
| Subjects
| Books
Clinical Chemistry
| Pathology
| Specialties
| Medicine
| Subjects
| Books
Conservation
| Environment
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Conservation
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1566702119 |
Book Description
Slightly more than 100,000 chemicals are produced in such an amount that they are threatening to the environment. These include common chemicals such as household cleaners, detergents, cosmetics, medicines, and pesticides. The Handbook of Estimation Methods in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Chemistry presents estimation methods for determining a number of physicochemical, biological, and toxicological parameters for these chemicals. Included is WinTox software, an estimation tool that is quick and easy to use; it provides a good initial estimate that can be further refined. Through the estimation methods demonstrated in this book, the following urgent questions can be answered:
Average customer rating:
- One Stop Statistical Library for Engineers & Scientists
|
The Handbook of Statistical Methods for Engineers and Scientists
Harrison M. Wadsworth
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Professional
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Statistics
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Probability & Statistics
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Statistics
| Engineering
| Applied
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mathematics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Engineering
| Reference
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Arts & Photography
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Professional
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Science
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 007067678X |
Book Description
Sharpen your statistical skills practically overnight! To meed today's stringent qualilty standards--including ISO 9000 and QS9000--you need solid statistical know-how. Here's the one tool that makes complex statistical methods easier and more accessible than ever. Handbook of Statistical Methods for Engineers and Scientists, Second Edition. Harry M. Wadsworth walks you step-by-step through the full range of statistical techniques--matching how-to procedures to specific applications--making it a breeze to: master such important procedures as acceptance sampling and survey sampling; exploit advanced statistical techniques including multicollinearity and biased estimation in regression, nonlinear regression and time series analysis; take advantage of cutting-edge computer simulation methods and robust design techniques; and much more.
Customer Reviews:
One Stop Statistical Library for Engineers & Scientists.......2000-05-26
I am a Six Sigma Master Black Belt (A.K.A. teacher and coach of Industrial Statistics & Project Management). I am frequently on the road and own the first edition of this book (out of print, 20 Chapters) and I refer to it at least one a week. Have reviewed a copy of the second (1998) edition (21 Chapters) wich includes an additional Acceptance Sampling chapter (...can't inspect quality into a product). This is a handy reference that I carry in my brief case instead of 20 different statistics and quality control textbooks. Dr. LLoyd S. Nelson says: "Haryy Wadsworth is to be commended for originating this useful work now in its second Edition." (Journal of Quality Technology, July 1999). He also states: "Editing a (statistics) handbook containing 21 chapters written by over two dozen authors must be something like driving a 20-mule team." Don't know about Prof. Wadsworth and his 20+ mules, but I certainly appreciate and use this handy and compact reference.
Customer Reviews:
An impressive collection of Sumerian literature.......2004-09-29
As the oldest body of literature in the world, Sumerian poetry represents man's first adaptation of writing to express ideas and beliefs far more complex than the "highly structured" applications such as accounting for which writing was originally invented. Many people believe that the ideas and mythological figures present in Sumerian poetry are echoed in the later traditions of Ancient Greece, Ancient Israel, and even Christianity. Clearly then, any person interested in the history of Western literature would be doing themselves a great disservice by ignoring their Sumerian origins.
The book is divided into eight parts: (1) Dumuzi Texts, (2) Royal Lovesongs, (3) Hymns to Gods, (4) Myths, (5) Epics, (6) Admonitory History, (7) Hymns to Temples, and (8) Laments for Temples. Thorkild Jacobsen describes most of the Sumerian literary corpus as being works of praise, such as to a god, a king, or a dead relative. Instead of describing human feelings or ambitions, most of these works serve a ceremonial purpose or are explanations for why the world is the way it is. As a result, many of the poems in this book can be difficult to connect with, since they are taken out of context. Although written down on clay tablets, Jacobsen and others have suggested that Sumerian literature was meant to be narrated orally. As such, an element that is missing from our modern translation is the narrator's embellishment of the story through improvisation, voice intonation, and body language/facial expression.
Nevertheless, it is still possible to get a glimpse into the mindset of the ancient Mesopotamians by reading their literature. The ancient Mesopotamians considered themeselves to have been created by the gods for the express purpose of serving them hand and foot. Apart from this, they had no reason to be. I felt that much of the poetry found in Jacobsen's book represented the Sumerians' desire to maintain the status quo through praise of the gods, currying their favor, and begging for mercy.
"The Harps That Once..." is a fine anthology of Sumerian literature and I would heartily recommend the book to anyone interested in sampling the literature of ancient Mesopotamia. I would also recommend "The Epic of Gilgamesh" translated by Andrew George (2003) (ISBN 0140449191) since it contains five of the Sumerian Gilgamesh stories, which complement nicely the collection represented in Jacobsen's book.
A literary treatment and true labor of love........2001-06-15
THE HARPS THAT ONCE . . . Sumerian Poetry in Translation. Translated by Thorkild Jocobsen. 498 pp. New Haven and London : Yale University Press, 1987. ISBN 0-300-07278-3 (pbk.)
I currently have three anthologies of Sumerian-Akkadian literature on my shelves: Stephanie Dalley's 'Myths from Mesopotamia' (1989), Benjamin R. Foster's 'From Distant Days : Myths, Tales, and Poetry of Ancient Mesopotamia' (1995), and the present book. All three are by specialists and are designed for the general reader; all, within the limits of their shared conventional viewpoint, are excellent; and anyone with a serious interest in this remote and fascinating literature will want to have all three.
The fact that all three are by specialists, however, raises a problem. For what it means is that we are being given is the official, orthodox, and, as it were, sanitized view of this literature, one based on a general consensus of academics as to what it is about and what its words mean.
Although I'm not a specialist myself but merely an enthusiastic Sumerophile, it's generally understood that knowledge of Sumerian and Akkadian is still in an imperfect state, and that 'definitions' of words in these languages should not be seen as fixed and more or less final, as they are in languages such as Latin or Greek, but should rather be seen as currently fashionable educated guesses by specialists, guesses which may turn out to be wrong.
Personally I doubt very much that the use by these writers of the word "gods," for example, accurately reflects what the ancients really meant. I also find their use of the word "myth" highly questionable, since I think that the poems and stories we are dealing with, far from being mere "myths" or falsehoods, are in fact a distant echo of events that actually occurred in history.
In other words, various and sometimes rather subtle kinds of scholarly distortion, a distortion which could be quite _innocent_ in intent, can creep into translations, and we cannot afford to assume that what is on the page must be right since a specialist put it there.
Let me repeat that I'm not accusing Sumerologists and Assyriologists of being scoundrels. I'm merely suggesting that in a field as complex and filled with difficulties as this, there will always be room for alternative views, views such as those of linguist and scholar Zecharia Sitchin whose '12th Planet' everyone who is interested in Sumer should read.
An extreme example of the sort of 'distortion' I am talking about occurs in Jacobsen's translation of 'Inanna's Descent.' Here are a few lines from the opening, with my obliques added to indicate line breaks:
"Inanna had / from the upper heaven / her heart set / on the netherworld. / My lady forsook heaven, / forsook earth, / went down into Hades" (page 207).
My questions are these: Is this a 'myth' or a poetic account of an actual historical event? Are Inanna and the other "gods" really "gods," or are they the living flesh-and-blood persons the Sumerians considered them to be? And how on earth did "Hades," a Graeco-Latin notion which will immediately conjure up a vivid image in the mind of anyone who has read Homer or Virgil, get into this far more ancient text from a wholly different culture?
Jacobsen's 'Inanna's Descent' is a long text of 28 pages, and I don't know how many times Jacobsen uses the word "Hades," but I count eleven instances on pages 208-209 alone. It's easy to see why he has chosen to use "Hades." It starts with his notion that "a lower earth," one that is beneath or under ours, must be understood as underground. But don't we refer to Australia as 'down under' ? and isn't it possible that what is "below" or "under" us could just as easily refer to a land in the southern hemisphere, a land such as Africa, and that the "darkness" in this poem might be the "darkness" of African mines ?
But whatever the case, "Hades," with its classical associations, is definitely misleading, as is the use of "myth," "god," "deity," "name," and a host of other words. If we turn to Stephanie Dalley's somewhat more technical translation of 'The Descent of Inanna,' we will find that she has been much more cautious and has not used the word "Hades" at all. Instead she wisely leaves the word in the original language, giving it as "Kurnugi" :
"To Kurnugi, land of [no return], / Ishtar ... was [determined] to go; / To the dark house, dwelling of Erkalla's god, / To the house which those who enter cannot leave, / . . . / To the house where those who enter are deprived of light, / . . . / They see no light, they dwell in darkness . . ." (page 155).
In the same sort of darkness, one might add, as experienced by slaves kept in mines. Is this Jacobsen's "Hades" or Sitchin's African mines ? I don't know, but I wouldn't blithely assume that the academic establishment must be right and that the matter is settled. There will always be room for alternative points-of-view, no matter how discomfiting they may be to those of fixed views.
Jacobsen's huge anthology been arranged as follows : Dumuzi Texts; Royal Lovesongs; Hymns to Gods; Myths; Epics; Admonitory History; Hymns to Temples; Laments for Temples. All been provided with their own brief introductions, and all gaps and losses of text in the original tablets have been indicated in the translations. In addition, all texts have brief and helpful footnotes.
The book also includes a brief Introduction, and is rounded out with a list of sources and a detailed 10-page Index. In size it is a large 8vo (9 by 6 inches), is beautifully printed on excellent paper with spacious margins, bound in wrappers that might have been sturdier, but sadly has one of those detestable glued spines that crack when opened.
The limits of this book are the limits of the official point-of-view. Within these limits Jacobsen's book becomes a true labor of love, a wonderfully readable literary treatment of some of the world's most ancient, fascinating and beautiful literature by an outstanding specialist, and one that can be strongly recommended to all sensitive readers, though they shouldn't take it as gospel but as something vastly more interesting.
Thorkild Jacobsen's Sumerian Translations.......2000-10-07
Sumerian texts, particularly poetry, are arguably the most difficult texts to translate. However, Dr. Jacobsen performs with extreme expertise in rendering the flow and feeling of these texts into english. One of the finest Sumerologists of the 20th century, Jacobsen brings a long dead culture to life. Very enjoyable to read and provided with detailed explanations of concepts. Mythological literature is also included.
Books:
- The Green Trees Beyond: A Memoir
- The Horizontal Everest: Extreme Journeys on Ellesmere Island
- The Lost River: A Memoir of Life, Death, and Transformation on Wild Water (Sierra Club Books Publication)
- The Mojave: A Portrait of the Definitive American Desert
- The Natural History of the Oak Tree: An Intricate Visual Exploration of the Oak and Its Environment
- The New Ecological Order
- The Origin of Birds and the Evolution of Flight (Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences Ser.)
- The Oxford Dictionary of Natural History
- The Philosophy of Ecology: From Science to Synthesis
- The Sacred Earth: Writers on Nature & Spirit
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Fretboard Logic SE: The Reasoning Behind the Guitar's Unique Tuning + Chords Scales and Arpeggios C
- Beast Master's Planet: Omnibus of Beast Master and Lord of Thunder
- Afterlands
- Amulets: Sacred Charms of Power and Protection
- Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh
- Chemistry: The Molecular Science
- Attack and Die: Civil War Military Tactics and the Southern Heritage
- Trumpet to Arms: Alternative Media in America
- Arctic and Antarctic: A Modern Geographical Synthesis
- Key Guide to Australian Palms, Ferns and Allies