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Customer Reviews (9)

Helpful book when fiction is presented as fact
I confess to having read two of Dan Brown's books , and even saw the Ron Howard's and Tom Hanks movie.I claim to be a Christian and yet Brown's writing and ideas are just so contrary to a faith based world view.This little book is quite useful for someone like me. With an alphabetical marching of topics in page after page, Cox reveals the sources for the facts and the fiction (mostly fiction) behind Brown's fictions.Since I first found out that Geoffrey Moore did not invent thethe idea of "eartly adopters" , I have been a believer that ideas get recycled from story teller to story teller.Cox does us a favor by laying out just where many of the ideas came from and often from whom.If you have read the "book" then this book is quite helpfulto you.I was interested in the links between DaVinci, Isaac Newton and others Cox found.

Cracking the Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown's bestselling novel, The Da Vinci Code, has become a global phenomenon; and introduced readers to a mysterious world where Leonardo Da Vinci encoded hidden meanings into his paintings, strange symbols are engraved in a remote Scottish chapel; and the Catholic Church and an ancient secret society are locked in a centuries-old battle to gain control of the ultimate prize: the Holy Grail.

But how much of the novel is actually true and what is fictional distortion? Cracking the Da Vinci code is the first book to cut through the confusion and disclose the amazing facts thatunderpin the plot. In a simple A-Z format it reveals the historical basis of the secrets contained in the book, including background information on all the key figures, reproductions of the symbols encoded in the paintings, and insider knowledge such as the riddles hidden in the characters' names.

Cracking the Da Vinci Code is an invaluable resource for the many enthusiasts of the novel and all those who want to learn more about the remarkable truth behind the legend of the Holy Grail.
--- from the book's dustjacket

A Dictionary of The Da Vinci Code
This is a good little reference work for people who have been exposed for the first time to the Bloodline/Grail theories found in The Da Vinci Code.Cox gives each item its own dictionary-style entry with a factual description that is anywhere from a half page in length to three pages.As Cox writes, "This book is designed in such a way as to give the reader of The Da Vinci Code a primer on many of the factual elements in the book."I found the color photos especially helpful so that I could see for myself what is being talked about.This book has been faulted for Cox's unabashed support of The Da Vinci Code, but clearly that is what inspired him to put this volume together.

Great Reference
I have enjoyed this book immensely.It is great as fast reference for the facts peppered throughout the Da Vinci Code, and also as a cover to cover read.My mother picked it up after I recommended it and has also enjoyed discovering the truth and the history behind the facts mentioned in the Dan Brown book.

To Go A Step Beyond
If you loved DaVinci Code or if you hated it, you must admit it did get a reaction from you....which in itself is one definition of a successful novel. Many readers have found themselves more interested in the information detailed in Dan Brown's books, and if so, this book is a good choice to begin to learn about the amazing history of the Christian Church.

Especially Gnosticism and the early Christian Church, and especially the creation of the New Testament Bible. For a different review....here is my review of books that build on these interests, especially the "lost" books of the New Testament Bible and the concepts of Gnosticism.

Nearly all knowledgeable Biblical scholars realize there have been a wide range of writings attributed to Jesus and his Apostles..... and that some of these were selected for compilation into the book that became known as the Bible.....and that some books have been removed from some versions of the Bible and others have been re-discovered in modern times.

The attention focused on Gnosticism by Dan Brown's DaVinci Code may be debatable, but the fact is that increased attention on academics tends to be predominately positive, so I welcome those with first-time or renewed interest.At least first-timers to Gnosticism are not pursuing the oh-so-popular legends of the Holy Grail, Bloodline of Christ, and Mary Magdalene.

This is great......I seldom quote other reviewers, but there is one reviewer of Pagels' books who confided that he had been a Jesuit candidate and had been required to study a wide range of texts but was never was told about the Nag Hamadi texts.He said:

"Now I know why.The Gospel of Thomas lays waste to the notion that Jesus was `the only begotten Son of God' and obviates the need for a formalized church when he says,`When your leaders tell you that God is in heaven, say rather, God is within you, and without you.'No wonder they suppressed this stuff! The Roman Catholic Church hasn't maintained itself as the oldest institution in the world by allowing individuals to have a clear channel to see the divinity within all of us: they need to put God in a bottle, label the bottle, put that bottle on an altar, build a church around that altar, put a sign over the door, and create rubricks and rituals to keep out the dis-believing riff-raff.Real `Us' versus `them' stuff, the polar opposite from `God is within You.'`My God is bigger than your God' the church(s)seem to say. And you can only get there through "my" door/denomination. But Jesus according to Thomas had it right: just keep it simple, and discover the indwelling Divinity `within you and without you.'"

Here are quickie reviews of what is being bought these days on the Gnostic Gospels and the lost books of the Bible in general:

The Lost Books of the Bible (0517277956) includes 26 apocryphalbooks from the first 400 years that were not included in the New Testament.

Marvin Meyers' The Secret Teachings of Jesus : Four Gnostic Gospels (0394744330 )is a new translation without commentary of The Secret Book of James, The Gospel of Thomas, The Book of Thomas, and The Secret Book of John.

James M. Robinson's The Nag Hammadi Library in English : Revised Edition (0060669357) has been around 25 years now and is in 2nd edition.It has introductions to each of the 13 Nag Hammadi Codices and the Papyrus Berioinensis 8502.

The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English (0140278079)by Geza Vermes has selected works....a complete work is more difficult to achieve than the publisher's marketing concept indicates.His commentary generates strong reactions.

Elaine Pagels has 2 books(The Gnostic Gospels 0679724532 and Beyond Belief : The Secret Gospel of Thomas 0375501568) that have received considerable attention lately.For many, her work is controversial in that it is written for popular consumption and there is a strong modern interpretation.She does attempt to reinterpret ancient gender relationships in the light of modern feminist thinking.While this is a useful (and entertaining) aspect of college women's studies programs, it is not as unethical as some critics claim.As hard as they may try, all historians interpret the past in the context of the present.Obviously there is value in our attempts to re-interpret the past in the light of our own time.

If you want the full scholarly work it is W. Schneemelcher's 2 volumeNew Testament Apocrypha.

Also, to understand the Cathars......try Barbara Tuckman's Distant Mirror for an incredible historical commentary on how the Christian Church has handled other points of view ... Read more

Product Description
Enhance your Web site functionality with JavaScript! Essential JavaScript for Web Professionals provides the reader with practical projects and realistic solutions. This real-world approach to JavaScript engages the reader, as more complex projects build on simpler problems from earlier in the book. Projects include rollovers, pulldown menus, and navigation tools. More complex problems include error handling, logins, creating pages on the fly from data held in multidimensional arrays, and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Good book for those familar with programming
I thought this book was great.It gives a quick enough overview to keep the attention of a student or professional.This book is not going to be a reference manual, but it is good enough to teach you the basics so you can get a feel for the language, what it does, and put it on your resume.

Well done book.
I see that there are readers of this book that are a little upset that they were unable to use this book as a learning tool, but as a reference, this book can't be beat.

As the title states, it is for Web Professionals. If you are just learning, I reccomend that you start small and work up to this book, you won't be sorry.

Can I rate 0 stars ???
If you want a book that awakes your worst instincts, just buy it. Hundreds of lines to explain how a while loop worksand minimalist info on Javascript itself. Full of bad jokes about a bad taste "virtual boss" obsessed with adding stupid goodies to your pages.

JavaScrimp
I picked up this book looking for a JavaScript book to use in the classroom. I'm still looking. The authors start with code without giving a good overview of the syntax.I found very little useful content in the 169 pages.Unless you are coding by hand, most of the routines are easily generated with a tool like ColdFusion.

Good for Housebreaking Beagles, Bad for Learning JavaScript!
The book begins by diving straight into the examples, without so much as a brief discussion of syntax. I found the example code was usually full of errors.It is not useful as a reference or a learning aid.I bought this book in London to read during the flight home.Next time I go back, I'm going to attempt to return it.Avoid the "Essential XYZ For Web Professionals" series like the plauge (or British Beef). ... Read more

Product Description
This practical workbook walks children through the process of learning how to handle an emergency. Pamela's adventures help kids understand what a true emergency is, when it is appropriate to call 911, and who will come to the house when a call is made. It includes a certificate of completion and a children's phone book page. It can accompany Impatient Pamela Calls 911 or be read separately. ... Read more

Product Description
Pamela sulks about her large feet until she starts to discover the positive uses, including swimming, snowshoeing, and hanging upside down from the monkey bars. Once Pamela springs into action, there's no stopping her until she finds the perfect activity for her big feet-scoring goals in soccer. Kids will learn the importance of body acceptance at an early age as they root for Pamela to "grow into" her feet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great read and fun illustrations
My kids, especially my daughter who just started playing soccer, loved this story about Pamela and her big feet.She wants me to read it to her again and again.

What I liked most about it was that Pamela found areason to like her feet all by herself, and didn't need a grown-up lectureon self-esteem.

The pictures are very colorful and fun. ... Read more

Product Description
Dutch Translation of bestseller. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Davinci Code
Excellent Read. Just pick it up...

Mediocre literature
I've finally read this so much talked about book. And what a dissapointment. Don't be misguided by the catholic close-minded, but don't be fooled too by the supposed intricacy of the code: half of the quests in the book are childish to make me cry over a stupid, blockbuster-born couple of protagonists, while the other half weren't quests at all, but guessworks for the book actors.

So don't expect much excitement by that side. Literary qualities, ITOH, are completely missing: this book will not be remembered five years from now, unless I've already lost track with current readers, but that would imply a much greater level of ignorance amongst the common people, and I don't believe it.

This is, in short, another cliche movie script slightly baked up to make a book. Handsome couple, hinted romance, action scenes... chapters are short to the ridiculous, the seem more cutscenes than real chapters... is current average attention time-span that of a snail?

And last but not least, this book is PC to tears. The complainers are these kind of people who can't stand a single critique to his "faith", be them in one side or the other.

Real or Not?
This book is so well crafted, you can't tell what is actual fact from Mr. Brown's cleaver imagination.Highly recommend this book!

Made traffic bearable.
This unabridged edition of this intriguing book kept me looking for reasons to go driving.I will also reread the book just to cross reference the history and art references.For the too busy Americans, all of us, this is a great read (listen).

Major disappointment + Poor narration = 1 star
I bought into the hype over this book and approached it quite eagerly as it promised intrigue and devious puzzles and carefully researched history. Boy, was I disappointed!Dan Brown's writing is annoyingly repetitious (how many times does he use the phrase "the sacred feminine"?)He also has the irritating habit of telling the reader that he is withholding information just to make the reader wait.It's one thing to withhold information; it;s another to tell you it's happening.The former can lead to well-crafted suspense. The latter is just a crude attempt to be suspenseful.And the puzzles that are supposed to be so clever are pretty obvious - simple anagrams and basic ciphers.

This is all compounded by the awful narration of Paul Michael who drones on and on with but a modicum of inflection.Even at the most harrowing moments (there are a few anyway) he never communicates any sense of danger or excitement; just a matter-of-fact recitation of Brown's prose. ... Read more