Customer Reviews (2)

Super Reading!
This a great book, lots of insight, lots of things to think about, very well done! Easy to read!

Too many anomalies that remain undiscussed by "experts"
All information must be analyzed carefully to better ascertain accuracy, however, "'Egyptologists, said John West, 'are the last people in the world to address any anomaly.'" (Chapter 47, p.441)
In addition, a concept that nicely sums up my feelings on the study of history as well, is stated by Professor Robert Schoch, a Boston University geologist, on page 447:" 'If my findings are in conflict with their [Egyptologists] theory about the rise of civilization then maybe its time for them to re-evaluate that theory.'"
A fascinating and intriguing book that is as mentally stimulating and mind-bending as "The Atlantis Blueprint" by Wilson, C. and Flem-Ath, Rand ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Bridges built out of yearning.
"The great systems that inform the world about the truth and life invariably claim to be absolutely truthful and well-balanced. In reality they are quaking bridges built out of yearning." Thus, the protagonist of this short story collection's last entry, "Reflection of a Young Man in Balance," sums up what he has come to learn about love, and life in general. However, these could also be the words of almost any character in any of the other tales told here: Admittedly or unadmittedly, they are searching for something, for a defining point or experience in life, and all of them see their lives profoundly unbalanced by that experience.

Taking "love and its conditions on the night of March 19, 1929" as his point of reference and as a link between the otherwise unconnected eight stories, Peter Hoeg takes his readers from Denmark around the world to Paris, Lisbon and Central Africa. In a language and in settings somewhere between Dinesen (the obvious comparison), Conrad, Hemingway, Wilde and Poe, the author of "Smilla's Sense of Snow" takes a look at the human condition, society in the first decades of the 20th century, and the dichotomy of science and sentiment, experience and emotion, logic and love.

In "Journey into a Dark Heart," a historic train ride in Central Africa turns into a life-changing adventure for a young, disheartened mathematician, with travel companions such as German war hero General von Lettow-Vorbeck, traveling writer Joseph Korzeniowski (a/k/a Joseph Conrad, whose "Heart of Darkness" provides the obvious inspiration for more than just the story's title) and an African servant girl with her own surprise in store for the three men.

"Hommage a Bournonville" finds a young Danish ballet dancer on a tiny boat in Lisbon's harbor, telling the story of his lost love to a dervish of Turkish origin cast together with him by fate.

In "The Verdict on the Right Honorable Ignatio Landstad Rasker, Lord Chief Justice," a father chooses the occasion of his son's marriage to pass on the story how his own father, a renowned jurist and civil servant, faced up to the demons he had suppressed for most of his life, and which his family thereafter promptly continued to suppress.

"An Experiment on the Constancy of Love" juxtaposes a young woman of means and great beauty, an aspiring scientist with a sheer endless disdain for life, and the man who becomes her suitor from their first childhood meeting on and follows her from Paris to Denmark and back to Paris, until their ambitions and sentiments collide head-on in a fatal experiment she has devised.

"Portrait of the Avant-Garde" takes a successful, ambitious painter with ties to the rising Nazis to a nightly boat trip into self-discovery off a remote Danish island.

"Pity for the Children of Vaden Town" is the story of a city's self-elected utter isolation, and of the pied piper who has come to the town children's rescue - with abounding reminiscences to the Grimm Brothers, Robert Browning, Hans Christian Andersen and Lewis Carroll.

In "Story of a Marriage," a writer discovers that the public image of perfection is often nothing more than that: an image.

And last but not least, in "Reflection of a Young Man in Balance," a young scientist discovers the destructively revealing power of a perfect mirror.

"Tales of the Night" was written and appeared in Denmark in 1990, as Hoeg's second book (after 1988's "The History of Danish Dreams" and two years before "Smilla's Sense of Snow"), but was published in the U.S. only after the success of his story about the Inuit exile from Copenhagen hell-bent on solving the mystery of the death of a little boy, her only friend. In tone and theme, the two books could not be any more different; yet, like Smilla, Hoeg's protagonists in these tales are loners; outsiders of society, and ultimately, most of them are comfortable in that role and seek solitude rather than social acclaim and popularity. "I learned that it may be necessary to stand on the outside of one is to see things clearly," the narrator of "Hommage a Bournonville" tells his Muslim companion, and he could be speaking for many of them. So, while social norms and conventions are an important backdrop for the experiences made by Hoeg's characters, ultimately it is one person in particular, often a loner like themselves, who provides them with the experience that will change the course of the entire rest of their lives.

Peter Hoeg tells his protagonists' stories with as much intelligence as humility, an occasional sense of humor; and most of all, with great empathy, undying even in their most somber moments. Not all of these tales are immediately uplifting (and Hoeg's successor novels continue to explore the dark side of the human existence); but they provide ample food for thought and are not to be missed.

Also recommended:
Smilla's Sense of Snow ... Read more

Product Description
A comprehensive and controversial study of the 60-billion-dollar-a-year world foreign-aid business, Lords of Poverty was a bestseller in hardcover and earned the 1990 H.L. Mencken Award honorable mention for an outstanding book of journalism. Hancock investigates why huge aid projects often fail and demands a response from those in the industry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Ahhh, refreshing and amusing
Hit the nail on the head as we would say back in the Netherlands. A very good read, at time one wonders how it all can be true. Hope Graham keeps up the good work and updates his book.

They never learn
This book is still accurate as nothing has changed with the policy of the UN.
Still they act as if they are keeping the world safe or fight poverty. But the reality is different. The people in the UN are still living the high life and they get subsidised by the tax-payers of the world. The people in the UN are often failed political figures in their own countries and because of networks, they get these overpaid jobs.
It still amazes me how often people think that the UN can solve the problems. In 1994 the UN army was pulled back from Rwanda, the moment it exploded and one million people died. The UN quickly returned to the UN refugee camps in the Congo, Burundi and Tanzania with NGO's to help the murderers, who were pictured as the victims.

When will they (the world) ever learn.

Intelligent analysis....
...and clever remarks criticising this book will not blur the truth that the world aid industry, especially that living off tax payer money, is beyond repair. It has been now 14 years when I read that book. I did it in Nairobi so I did not need any extra evidence to see that UN is a bunch of wealthy people who basically do not care. I remember that UN compound in Nairobi separated from ordinary folk by large fence and guards. It had an inside duty free shop so that people who shuffle papers there and pretend to work can save money while shopping for favourite alcohol. They all drive 4 wheel drives - white color obligatory, live in secured most expensive compunds, use free time for flying-safaris to see Kenya and...write reports on projects that as a result create new projects that need to be discussed at yet another meeting. In Switzerland or New York while seeking new career opportunities away from Africa. At that very time the streets of Nairobi were filled with thousand of street kids - a ticking bomb for Kenyan society. And UN did absolutely nothing to address that problem. And that I saw for one year. Why is it beyond repair? Bacause for the last 14 years nothing has changed for better only for the worse. Somebody wrote here in his/her review "nothing is perfect". Oh no this is so wrong. It is more, it is an excuse to do always mediocre job. And there are things that function perfectly well. No space here to enumarate them. Furthermore aid industry in the form of UN and World Bank lives off tax payers money so they should be accountable and to them this silly rule of nothing is perfect should not apply. What is more I had this strange feeling while talking to some people from the UN that they see themselves somehow better than the rest by mere fact that they think they belong to those fortunate few who actually change the world. How sick is that? Probably emotional review as is for me the whole case of aid inudstry. Read that book. It is a must before you buy another Xmas postcard printed by UNESCO. Maybe it will be better to buy some food or toys for nearby orfanage.

Great insightfulness!!
I read," Figer prints of the gods", " The Sign and The Seal" , and now " Lords of Poverty"
Graham is a great journalism writer. His works are great for people who try to read from grassroot sources, not from speculators. I loved this book and even took it to my professor to have her read some lines that got my attention.
I cannot wait to read more works from this writer.

Fascinating if one sided-a must read for all development workers. Unfortunately outdated
Disclosure time- I work in the aid industry.

While I agree with much of what Hancock has to say (see below), this book is somewhat one-sided.Aid can reasonably claim a share in some positive world developments, such as rising life expectancy rates, decreased infant mortality, increase in primary education and literacy, growth in per capita GDP, and others.Undoubtedly, success has been patchy, and some areas, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, are worse off than they were fifty years ago, before the advent of the international aid industry.But in detailing its extensive failures, one should not completely ignore its successes (even if they maybe much less than what the aid industry claims).

With all that being said, I think a book of this sort is a must read for all aid workers, to bring us face to face with dark side of our work.

Here is a list of criticisms Hancock has about the international aid industry, and my own impressions.

1. International aid is a big bureaucracy more intent on keeping itself going than helping the poor.

My response- true- International aid is a huge bureaucracy.I spend my time writing and reading memos, and trying to get them 'cleared' as fast as possible.I literally spend no time with the poor.

2. International aid agencies spend money on big, wasteful projects that harm the poor and decimate indigenous societies.

My response: True depending on the development agency/country mission.Agencies (and agency sub-divisions, such as country missions) with lots of funds go this route.The ones that don't have such large accounts hire 'technical experts' instead.

3. Aid agencies hire expensive foreign 'technical experts' who lack local expertise; they bypass the concerns and wisdom of the local population.

True to a large extent.Most experts do not even speak the language of those they are trying to help.Some of our experts do supposedly meet with the local population, and address them through means such as surveys, interviews and 'focus group discussions.'I have no idea how hard they really try, as I sit in the office writing and reading memos.In either case, nothing really innovative comes from these efforts.This is because these experts already have blanket solutions (which are the same throughout the world) and try to impose them on the local populace through 'behavior change and communication' and other similar methods.Thus, the surveys and interviews, to the extent they take place at all, are not really a means to partner with the local people; rather, they are means to learn about the 'barriers' to implementation of blanket solutions.

4.International aid is actually a means for subsidizing western businesses.

Undoubtedly true.As Hancock points out, this is one reason why development agencies go for big projects, and why they hire 'foreign experts.'If I am not spending my time writing and reading memos I am spending my time reading project proposals for my development agency's money.Most of these, of course, come from Western businesses and NGOs.I also spend my time enforcing or waiving regulations stating that organizations that receive our money can only buy goods (including but certainly not limited to automobiles and pharmaceuticals) produced in my nation.

5.International aid has allowed wicked despots to make themselves richer, and allowed ruling thugs to escape responsibility.

True- but I think there has been somewhat more of an emphasis today on funding being tied to concepts such as 'good governance,' controlling corruption, and so on, at least in theory.Of course, reality is sometimes different, in that nations of 'strategic importance' get large amounts of funds despite poor governance, incredible corruption and other failures.

5. Development workers are lazy and mediocre.They are often under-educated, make lots of money, live in big houses, have conferences in the best hotels and eat gourmet cuisine.

Partly true. Most of the aid workers in my particular aid agency are highly educated- the minimum entry requirement is a master's degree, and many of us have PhDs or the equivalent.Our base salary is not very impressive compared to others of a similar educational background- certainly many of us could make much more outside of the official aid industry.That being said, the fringe benefits are quite lavish- one may even say over the top: I admit that I am a single woman living in a large 3-bedroom manor, I attend conferences at ritzy hotels and dine on great food- in an impoverished third world country, all at government, or should I say tax payer, expense.

So, the aid industry has gone seriously wrong- what can we do about it?Unfortunately, while Hancock goes into great depths about the problems of aid, he gives us very few solutions.He believes we should dismantle the aid industry- but then what?How can we as citizens of our planet help our world become a better place?Some possible solutions suggested themselves to me when reading the book- one wonders why Hancock decided not to write an extra chapter with ideas such as these:

1.Clarify and purify intentions.As Hancock points out, the mixed intentions of the aid industry (help the poor AND aid western businesses AND further political interests AND AND AND...) is responsible for many of the problems it has caused.

2.Partner with local communities.I mean truly partner with them, listen to their concerns and ideas, and let them take the lead in coming up with solutions. Note, unlike Hancock, I do think there is a place, with careful thought, for some `Western' knowledge and technology.The best solutions maybe ones arrived at through our collective wisdom.However, don't just try to impose blanket solutions through means such as 'behavior change.'

3.Keep things small as much as possible.Some big projects such as large-scale famine relief, refugee assistance, etc, maybe necessary, but these large-scale efforts are much more prone to corruption, and much more often bypass local communities.

4.Speak the local language- this is the only way to effectively partner with local communities.

Finally, as others have pointed out, the book was written in 1989, so its quite dated. While much of what it says still holds true, an updated version offering modern examples of aid failure would be much more powerful. ... Read more

Product Description
This book shatters the greatest secret of the last 3000 years. It is a quest for the "Lost Ark of the Convenant". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Historical facts and fictions.
The Sign and the Seal by Graham Hancock is one of the best researched books on the contradictions of traditional, accepted histories and logical interpretations of finds and texts of the past.Of special interest to me is "The Finger of God", which the Egyptian priests tell Pharaoh, Moses has.The tantalizing thought that this thing could be knocking around somewhere in Ethiopia with the Ark is enough to make me want to go hunting legends.
Our history may be a very different story than the one that was taught to us in church and school.After reading the book I was left with this thought: Modern man is approximately one million years old.So starting from scratch man could have developed highly technological civilizations like our own, one hundred times between ice ages and volcano cycles.If he did some of his tools, like the "finger of God", could still exist.
If you have problems with accepting the traditional theories of the past because so much of it is based on faith and miracles, while seeming to ignore the available facts, or if you are just interested in alternative histories, this is the book for you.

great religion/history book

While it does not definitvely answer the wuestion of the fate of the Ark of the Covenant, this book presents a thorough and intersting look into the history, culture and religion of Ethiopia -both Christian and Jewish.
Ethuiopia is a fascinating country whether they have the Ark or not!

educational and entertaining
Cover to cover it is an engaging read. It doesn't matter if you don't agree with some of his conclusions and intrepretations it is still an educational and entertaining read.It describes a rich and ancient history of a country that the average North American would otherwise not know anything about. I would recommend it to any one interested in biblical history.

Well researched, but some conclusions are debatable
I was highly impressed with Graham Hancock's committment to completing his quest and telling his story.He did so at the cost of his family, which is regretable.I much appriciate his sacrifice for all of us. It is obviousthat he put a great deal of time, research and effort into his work.Wenow have a more clearer story of the "FOUND" Ark of the Covenantof God; "found" because I do believe it is in Ethiopia.

However, I do disagree with a few of Graham's conclusions, specificallywith regard to Moses as only being a master magician, educated by theEgyptians, and Jesus as not being the Divine Son of God.I have many ideasand comments on the subject, but with just 1,000 words allowed, I must bebrief.

I also wish to contact Graham, to share some of my insights, but Ido not have a way of establishing communications with him.I have numerousquestions, such as:1) Has Graham actually read the Book of Enoch; 2) Hashe done research on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (forthey have a lot of templar type traditions-- and a definite connection withFreemasonry); 3) Has he actually attempted to contact the modern Templarsand the Vatican for direct questioning, particularly concerning the truemotivation for the Knight's quest for the Ark, and concerning the contactof Pope Clement V with the Ethiopian delegation, just one year prior to thepersecution of the Templars; and 4) is Graham himself a Templar?

I am aChristian and have full faith that the scriptures are accurate.I also donot believe that it is inconsistant that a just and loving God would slaythe wicked, for disobeying him--especially on such sacred and importantmatters as the establishment of God's Law and Gospel to His Children, onearth, through his vessel--the Ark.It is not unjust for the righteousto slay the wicked.Therefore, I do not classify God as being apsychopathic murderer as Graham had suggested.

An easy-to-follow journey for the reader
This book was the first of Graham Hancock's I ever read. Although the size was, at first, daunting, I quickly was drawn into the book as it contextualizes the history surrounding the Ark of the Covenant to explain where others quests may have gone awry. Hancock enables the reader to retrace the possible/probable trail the Ark may have taken and explains each twist and turn with basic logic. I was able to read it in 3 days and retained enough to retell the tale during 3 a.m. guard duty shifts to my fellow freezing comrades, making the time pass quickly and opening up more lively conversation than you usually find guarding an empty perimeter in the snow. I loaned it to a professor and have yet to get it back. Of course, now my brother has a copy. A great book. ... Read more