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Part of a series telling the stories of important voyages of discovery. The books describe challenges and hardships faced by those who set out to discover new lands, new ocean passages, to open up new trade routes or to win fame and fortune. This book tells the tale of the French explorer, Jacques Cartier, who voyaged up the St Lawrence River to reveal the vast and fertile land of Canada. The author portrays his meetings with the Indians, his adventures and achievements which led to the establishment of a French colony in the Americas. This book supports Key Stage 2 of the History National Curriculum where it focuses on exploration 1450-1550. ... Read more

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Chronicles the Vikings' exploration and colonization of Greenland, Iceland, and North America. ... Read more

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A series telling the stories of important voyages of discovery. The books describe challenges and hardships faced by those who set out to discover new lands, new ocean passages, to open up new trade routes or to win fame or fortune. In this fifth title of the series, the author tells the story of Columbus's attempts to discover what he thought would be Asia over a period of many years. ... Read more

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A dramatic series telling the stories of important voyages of discovery. The books describe challenges and hardships faced by those who set out to discover new lands, new ocean passages, to open up new trade routes or to win fame or fortune. The seventh book in the "Exploration" series, this tells the story of the Norwegian explorer who was the first man to reach both the South Pole, in 1911, using sledge-dog teams, and the North Pole, in 1926, in an airship. ... Read more

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One of a series of stories about important voyages of discovery, this book reconstructs the explorations of Captain Cook, who explored the coasts of New Zealand and eastern Australia, discovered the Hawaiian islands, circumnavigated Antarctica and searched for the north-west passage. ... Read more

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Recreates the journeys of this 19th-century doctor and minister who became a key explorer in the continent of Africa. The text is backed up with historical documentation and a timechart. ... Read more

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During the 1970s Americans launched twelve robot spacecraft on paths to the far corners of the solar system. Each mission was a resounding success, yielding detailed knowledge of Earth's neighboring planets and advancing human understanding of the solar system's origin and evolution. Providing an insider's view of what has been called a golden era in space pioneering, Robert S. Kraemer documents the efforts of those who contributed to a burst of planetary exploration that laid the foundation for even more extraordinary voyages of discovery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Were the 1970s a Golden Age for Space Science?
According to author Robery S. Kraemer they certainly were. He points to several key missions as demonstrations of this fact: Pioneers 10 and 11, Vikings 1 and 2, and Voyagers 1 and 2, as well as a host of other projects begun during the decade. This important recollection explores many of the central themes affecting space science during the latter half of the twentieth century. It describes and analyzes the conduct of NASA's planetary science program throughout the 1970s, enhancing our understanding of the NASA missions to all of the planets of the Solar System save Pluto. Not so much a part of the "new aerospace history" as it is a ringing insider account of the subject, Kraemer's discussion provides the details that only a participant would know about the progress of these important missions.

It is a heroic story in Kraemer's telling, one filled with men and women of good character striving to achieve important objectives. They did not always agree with each other, and competed ferociously for their respective positions, but they all respected each other. The result was astonishing and that alone may have given rise to the belief that the planetary missions executed during the 1970s were the "golden age" of the program.

Although the case may be well made for this assessment at present, and Kraemer makes it well, will that be the conclusion of those one hundred years hence? Will probes sent to the planets serve, something like Columbus did with the Americas, as vanguards of sustained exploration and settlement? Or will they prove to be more like Leif Erickson's voyages, stillborn in the public conception of new lands? No one knows at present but books such as this make a subtle case for many additional voyages of discovery.

In the 1960s Kraemer worked for Ford Motor Co., serving as chief engineer for its Space Systems Division and as a manager of its Lunar and Planetary Programs. In this capacity he learned firsthand of the challenges inherent in planetary science programs. Charting the delicate course between the requirements of the scientists for their instruments and the rigid confines of technological systems managed by engineers, he worked on some of NASA most significant missions of the decade. Kraemer moved to NASA Headquarters in 1967 to work on Mars exploration planning efforts, and throughout the first third of the decade of the 1970s he was Director of Planetary Programs. During this period he shepherded to launch many of the illustrious planetary missions that have given rise to the belief that the 1970s was the "golden age" of planetary science.

Because of this deep background, Kraemer's insider account of planetary science in the 1970s is a welcome addition to the history of space exploration. It compares well to other books relating experiences in space science. That is the reason that I agreed to write an introduction for this book. I recommend it as an engrossing account of an important episode in space exploration history written by the consummate insider.

An entertaining, informative read
This book provides an insider look at the trials, tribulations, successes and failures involved in unmanned space exploration during the 1970s. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in space, project management, policy, technology and history.

Kraemer, the former director of NASA's plantary exploration program, has an easy-reading style, but he doesn't skimp on details. The book is well-organized, discussing each probe and its history in turn. He also provides diagrams and charts, including one very striking and effective 'balanced approach' chart that all program managers should study and modify for their own use. The center section of the hardcover version also includes some beautiful color plates of some of the planets and their moons.

This book will give you an appreciation of the extreme technical, social and political difficulties that need to be overcome to study our solar system in depth. If you liked Donna Shirley's "Managing Martians," you'll like this book as well.

An entertaining, informative read
This book provides an insider look at the trials, tribulations, successes and failures involved in unmanned space exploration during the 1970s. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in space, project management, policy, technology and history.

Kraemer, the former director of NASA's plantary exploration program, has an easy-reading style, but he doesn't skimp on details. The book is well-organized, discussing each probe and its history in turn. He also provides diagrams and charts, including one very striking and effective 'balanced approach' chart that all program managers should study and modify for their own use. The center section of the hardcover version also includes some beautiful color plates of some of the planets and their moons.

This book will give you an appreciation of the extreme technical, social and political difficulties that need to be overcome to study our solar system in depth. If you liked Donna Shirley's "Managing Martians," you'll like this book as well.

The Triumphs of the Planetary Space Missions of the 1970's
During the period from 1971 through 1978, NASA launched twelve space probes to explore the planets and the sun and achieved many firsts, such as, the first planetary orbiter, the first planetary lander, the first spacecraft to visit the outer planets and the first spacecraft to use the gravity assist.While a good portion of these stories is presented in the first person, such as the budget battles the author had to fight, this is not his autobiography.

The book is divided into chapters covering each planetary or solar probe and also includes an introductory and closing chapter.Each chapter presents the organization of the spacecraft management team, the determination the science objects, hardware development problems, the budget (and sometimes budget problems), the problems encountered from launch to the arrival, and finally a summary of the important discoveries of each planetary encounter.Each chapter also presents a detailed drawing or two of the spacecraft and a few photographs.Detailed findings from each mission are presented, since these would be books in themselves.

One of the most interesting chapters covers the joint German-US solar probe Helios.This was the first major joint space project.This spacecraft orbited the sun at a distance of less than 30 million miles, which closer to the sun than the planet Mercury and returned valuable data on the nature of the sun.

While I found all the chapters in this book very interesting, I think the final chapter of the book was by far and away the best.The author summarizes what he learned over his many years in the upper management of NASA and his dealings with Congress.In this position, he learned two things.1) Do not let politics dictate technical decisions and, 2) Do not lie to Congress.These are two concepts that our current NASA administrator should embrace.If he did, I believe more of our country's space projects would funded and succeed. ... Read more

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This book is part of the "Exploration Through the Ages" series which tells the stories of important voyages of discovery. The books describe challenges and hardships faced by those who set out to discover new lands, new ocean passages, to open up new trade routes or to win fame or fortune. This particular book looks at the voyages of Vasco da Gama, explaining how this Portuguese explorer made the first epoch-making sea voyage around Africa to discover the trading riches of India. The illustrations and text vividly portray the dramatic life he led, his achievements and his struggles, ending with his death in Cochin, India where he was Viceroy and Admiral of India. This book supports Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum where it focuses on history and exploration from 1450 to 1550. ... Read more

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Fabulous Book!
Crete Reclaimed is an amazing book giving you everything you need to understand the period of Bronze Age Crete.All women and men should read this book and gain understanding and insight to what could happen (thousands of years of peace, huge advancements and achievements, etc.) when the sexes aren't at battle and women aren't disenfranchised.Both sexes are sacred.Both need to work together.It is hard to completely understand a matriarchial socicety coming from a patriarchal history where our female anscestors have been silenced and their voices lost, but Susan Evasdaughter does a great job of painting the picture of our imagination and making it real and understandable.We need to understand our entire history to understand ourselves.It is empowering and I highly recommend it!!!!Read this book.It is a treasure! ... Read more

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An illustrated companion volume to the six-part PBS-TV series chronicles the evolution of the Space Age, from the earliest rocket designs, to the human conquest of space, to the future of space exploration. 50,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo. TV tie-in. Tour. ... Read more

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Scotland’s people may be few in number, but their influence and contribution have been enormous. When Scotland Ruled the World sheds new light on the 200 years between 1750 and 1950—the Golden Age of Scottish genius and creativity. ... Read more

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Who knew?
This is a remarkable collection of cameo biographys of Scottish people whose influnces on our world are ongoing. Many of the names are familiar and I partucularly like having them placed in their chronological places with other familiar names and events. I borrowed this book along with HOW THE SCOT'S iNVENTED THE MODERN WORLD, by Arthur Herman. Before I was finished reading them I knew I had to have my own copies. The information contained will provide direction to further reading/research for more specifics on different individual. ... Read more

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Conquerors of Time celebrates 150 years of courage, energy, innovation, resourcefulness and grand ideas, from the late 17th century to the early 20th. It's about the seafarers, engineers, inventors and trailblazers who enabled the British to hold together a vast empire and the Americans to push their frontiers west.Some, such as Captain Cook and Robert Stephenson are famous. Others, like the makers of chromonometers, the collectors of tropical plants or the railway engineers who roughed it in the Canadian wilderness are less well-known. What they all had in common is a desire to understand the world and a determination to harness the forces of nature. 'Trevor Fishlock's brio and broad vision matches those of his subjects and makes for a rattling good read.' Lawrence James, Daily Mail'Fact-filled and highly evocative ... the sheer romance of the story is irresistible.' Sunday Telegraph ... Read more

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This riveting biography recounts the life of the world's first truly modern explorer, a life of unrelenting adventure and the high drama of polar exploration. Hubert Wilkins was the most successful explorer in history: no one saw with his own eyes more undiscovered land and sea. Largely self-taught, he was a celebrated reporter, pilot, spy, war hero, scientist, and adventurer. He captured in his lens war and famine, cheated death repeatedly, met world leaders like Lenin, Mussolini, and King George V, and circled the globe on a zeppelin. Knighted for being the first person to fly across the North Pole, Wilkins was also the first to fly in the Antarctic, discover land by airplane, and take a submarine under the Arctic ice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

The Forgotten Explorer

It is almost impossible to believe, after reading this book, that a man such as Hubert Wilkins could be so unrecognized in world history. It is a name you rarely hear mentioned. Yet, his accomplishments as an explorer and world traveler are unsurpassed. If you are one who enjoys reading about the exploits of Amundsen, Shackleton, Nansen and other great explorers, you'll love this account.
Wilkins was driven by an insatiable desire to experience the vastness of the world first hand. From a humble beginning in Australia he became a photographer, pilot, sailor, explorer, climatologist and a host of other endeavors. He spanned the Arctic, Antarctica, Australia, Russia and virtually the entire world. A humble man, he never sought fame or fortune, but looked at his adventures as personal fulfillment. His travels often brought him to the point of death and he amazed all who knew him with his incredible determination and strength to continue.
The author does a fine job of detailing Wilkins journey from the earliest of times to his final passing.
If you love adventure and world travel, this story is well worth your time.

Captivating Thrill Ride of Adventure
Having heard very little of Hubert Wilkins prior to reading this book, I wasn't sure how interesting I would find it. I was completely captivated from start to finish of the fascinating life and adventures of the incredible explorer. The author's descriptions of each adventure allowed me to picture the events unfolding almost as vividly as Wilkins first hand accounts. This book has won a spot in my top 5 biographies that I have read.

Extraordinary read
Best book I've read in a long while. A rollicking, fine adventure story made all the more amazing in that it is the true life story of one of Australia's forgotten heroes. A "must" read!

An Important Read For Anyone Curious About The Urantia Book
Hi.Anyone who has read any of my other reviews (two were slipped in by my daughter when she was a pre-teen - unbeknownst to me) knows that I have read the Urantia Book.Cover to cover.If you are at all curious about that tome, and find the very premise of it a barrier that you simply can't overcome, I suggest starting with this biography about Sir Hubert Wilkins.Why?Because he was there - he knew the principal players who were responsible for bringing the Papers to fruition (and that's what they were at first - "papers" - the kind of thing that a professor may have on the drawing board for years before publication).Moreover, Wilkins evidently witnessed some of the paranormal events and wrote very matter of factly about it.For that particular insight you have to dig out one of the other two biographies of him or find my article about him online wherein I quote from a letter Wilkins left for his secretary.You can find that on the Square Circles website where they catalog the Spiritual Fellowship Journal.I believe my article about Sir Hubert is in the Spring 2004 edition.This book of course goes far beyond my article reguarding Wilkins life - but not far enough reguarding Wilkin's involvement with the Urantia movement in the 1940's and 50's.For a full and very clear picture of that please read the Sherman Diaries - again available through Square Circles Publishing and Amazon.These diaries contain many, many letters to and from Wilkins.This guy was there folks.If you want to call the Urantia Book all manner of silly names then knock yourself out.But - when you awaken, try writing a paper on the nature of reality or the meaning of Jesus' death on the cross.Then, compare your offering with this amazing book.After all these years of on-again off-again reading I have come to this (personally undeniable) conclusion:If the Urantia Book is what it says it is then that is incredible.And/or - if the Urantia Book is of human origin then that too is incredible.Either way you cut it, it's the best I've found on these far reaching matters.Now, to Wilkins it seems to have been simply another adventure, another journey except he went inward this time - not out into the wilderness.This was a serious man - one of the last of his kind.He led an amazing life, and to acknowledge it the United States Navy sent his ashes to the North Pole abroad the USS Nautilus - the first nuclear powered submarine.So, after you aquaint yourself with the life of Sir Hubert (knighted for his many and myriad accomplishments) ask yourself - why would he participate in the Urantia movement?There was no pecuniary gain.It was time consumming.He would pick up and go to the ends of the earth on a regular basis.Would he sit around the musty reading room at 533 (I've been there) because he had nothing better to do?Hardly.Read this book about him - this is clearly the best of the three.This man could literally have stepped out of an Indiana Jones movie or been a character in Casablanca.Truely unforgettable...................

Great book about a great, but forgotten, man.
Simon Nasht's book is like an icebreaker charting a course through the Antarctic and revealing one of its greatest explorers. It is hard to believe that one person so "aggressively modest" could have done so much with so little.Up until now, few had remembered him.What a pity.Thanks for bringing him back to life.Now, when is the movie coming out?
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

fell's weak linguistics/epigraphics again
In general, there is no good reason to accept Fell's linguistic and epigraphic identifications.See my review of America B.C.

What do reason and logic have to do with real science?
Having just returned from visiting the Peterborough petroglyphs, I am truly overcome with the amount of PC (i.e. Indian culture) that is displayed on the part of the Canadian Gov't. Dr. Fell presents a wellthought out and logic argument for a Norse orgin for the petroglyphs. TheCanadian Gov't does not and views the petroglyphs as Indian in origin, butcan not explain what they mean or why they are there. Dr. Fell'sexplanation is a logical answer to what happened to the tonnes of copperthat were mined in the area in the BC (the Indians did not use), why themining was done, and stopped. "At some point in the distant past, thecarvers ceased coming to the site" so goes the Gov't version."The boats here do not appear to resemble the birchbark canoes used bythe natives in this region". The read in the book is at times long-not from lack of content, but from Dr. Fell's scientic approach to thematter. This is the way science used to operate, before PC became aconcern. In light of Kennewick Man and other recent discoveries in thescience of Archeology, maybe Dr. Fell has latched on to the toe of theearly history of N. America.

Fascinating New Appraisal of American Prehistory
Although flawed in some of his interpretation, Dr. Fell uses his wide ranging knowledge of truly ancient language forms to demonstrate the connections of Celtic/Anlglo-Saxon/Norse petroglyph alphabets and similarrune-type carvings in pre-Colombian America. ... Read more

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Surveys the fascinating advances being made in the visual arts five hundred years ago, examining the art and history of Europe and the Mediterranean, the Far East, and the Americas during an age of experimentation and discovery. ... Read more

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An excellent resoruce to the world in 1492.
I recently used Circa 1492 as a reference in preparing lesson plans for several high school units. I found the book to be an excellent resource, filled with information about the world in 1492 that was thought provoking. I recommend the book for anyone who is interested in art and history, multicultural society, and the age of exploration. ... Read more

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Designed to introduce LIS students to the ever-changing world of modern libraries and information centers, this text provides an important overview of libraries in the era of electronic information. It helps students build necessary core knowledge in such areas as electronic dissemination of information, the impact of the Internet on libraries, the changing responsibilities of library professionals, the new paradigm for evaluating information, and characteristics and functions of today's library personnel. Each chapter revolves around a pertinent topic: the history of libraries, job opportunities, collections, preparing materials for use, circulation, reference service, ethics in the information age, job search basics, and the Internet. References and relevant books, Web sites, and publications at the end of every chapter point to further resources. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Plain and Simple
Text is plain and simple. Straightforward information about libraries and careers offered in the library field. ... Read more

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