Product Description
They appear seemingly out of nowhere; one moment a pristine field, the next moment a complex and mysterious design imprinted in the nearly ripened wheat. The stalks are bent and laid in swirls and patterns of mathematical precision and yet remain virtually undamaged. Some designs demonstrate principles of geometry while others portray ancient religious symbols. Skeptics tell us they're hoaxes, but no one can fully explain how these patterns are created with such speed and accuracy. Some even believe there are alien forces at work.The Crop Circles 2008 wall calendar features thirteen incredible crop circle photographs paired with fascinating information about this phenomenon by expert Freddy Silva, a leading researcher of crop circle occurrences and author of "Secrets in the Fields: The Science and Mysticism of Crop Circles," published by Hampton Roads in 2002. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Beautifully captured!
This calendar captures the beauty of the phenomena of the crop circles.The images are captured with clarity and include a thorough caption of the location and geometrical significance of the design.Each image is a pure work of art the speaks to your soul.Excellent color with significant astrological dates highlighted throughout.Very enjoyable to look at!

a bit disappointing
it is a well done calendar, also ecologically made but the pictures are just not good. I've seen in different books much better pictures and I still can't understand why didn't they put better crop-circles then the simple ones they chose? and why not putting some 2007 crop circles?
disappointing product. buy the book of Silva instead - it is an amazing inspiring project.

Crop circle calandar
I am amazed by the phenomenon of crop circles
this calandar presents the variations and beauty of such incrediblepatterns

More than just a calendar
This 2006 crop circle calendar put together by Freddy Silva is much more than a few photos of crop circles.They appear to have been carefully selected by Silva to represent important characteristics of sacred geometry, and their links to the esoteric mystery schools, which is explained in text, on each page.

There are photo's depicting symbols from Buddhism, Egyptology, Kabballah, Christianity, & Islam.In addition, he has included many of the important religious dates for each month, easy to see at a glance.For me, a Westerner who's knowledge of Eastern religion is still growing, this is a great tool for connecting into the activities of other forms of worship.You could almost say its a universal calendar!

The other standard features are included; moon phase dates, holidays, plus a mini 2007 calendar.

Great value, you can't lose. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Believe it or not it's very interesting
This was a fascinating book that provided alot of information not just about crop circles but other topics as well including sacred geometry, history, and other cultures.Whether you believe the crop circle phenomenon or not this book is still very interesting and informative and might just open your mind to other possibilities.I liked that the book does not necessarily need to be read cover to cover but rather you could open to any page, like I did, and find yourself engrossed.I must admit that I found the scientific data to be rather compelling and would recommend this book to anyone who wants an alternative view to the conventional thought that crop circles were made by humans.

You've come this far...,
If you're reading this review, then you are the right person to buy the book. It is a very well researched book and explains in debth the science and the mysteries of these pictograms. Yes, there are hoax circles, but then there are those saturated with unexplainable phenomena which rules out the cheap and cheerful hoaxes.

Buy the book - you won't regret it...

excellent book
This book got to me very quickly, It was much thicker than I expected and filled to the brim with loads of scientific knowledge. I thought I knew all there was to know about crop circles but this book openned me up to a whole new and completely cool perspective. The middle color section is filled with beautiful pictures. Its a great addition to any open minded book collection! I LOVE IT.

Incredible and even more creditable.....
Freddy Silva has devoted his entire life to studying the crop circle phenomenon.. I highly recomend this book to anyone who has a want for knowledge.. He states the scientific facts of his and other reseachers findings.. He dis-credits the fake crop circles made by the hand of man and proves the authenticity of the seemingly impossible formations of true crop circles.. This book will take you on a journey and is very hard to put down.. At the price that amazon is selling it for brand new, I would deffinatley recomend getting this book... You won't be dissapointed.....

Different.
I saw this book at Barnes & Nobles, felt inexplicably DRAWN to open it and the gorgeous crop circle pictures as well as the very DIFFERENT style of writings and offered possible theories of them, well, I went straight home to devour it.
The book never sits on the shelf for long. Everytime the subject of crop cirlces come up, this book is opened up again.
Beautiful book, beautiful pictures, beautiful concepts and suggestions, thanks for writing this, Mr. Silva! ... Read more

Book Description
Though they are not just a recent phenomenon, during the past few decades new crop circles have been reported worldwide at the rate of about one per day, creating considerable controversy over their origin or cause. Theoretical experimental physicist Eltjo Haselhoff presents a comprehensive overview of these beautiful and mysterious formations. His research includes a scientific investigation of germination anomalies, the dead fly enigma, peculiar deposits, geometrical ratios, and balls of light. In addition, he reports on the first-person accounts of people who have witnessed their appearance and even ventures into the study of the psychic perspective. Haselhoff comes to some fascinating conclusions in the last chapter, 'Circular Arguments.' After reading this book, you will definitely agree with Conclusion Six: 'Something very strange going on.' ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

A valid justification for the study of circles
The Deepening Complexity of Crop Circles: Scientific Research and Urban Legends by Eltjo H. Haselhoff is a quick read, weighing in at only 150 pages (including plentiful photographs and diagrams).The book covers the crop circle phenomenon from Dr. Haselhoff's vantage point, drawing primarily on his body of personal research and experience.We are walked through the main tenants of the circle dilemma from a scientist's perspective, including witness interviews, germination tests, node length measurements, balls of light, and geometric calculations.In addition to the scientific material, the author touches upon the less tangible aspects of the phenomenon and goes into considerable detail on skeptics and their motivations, the role of the media, and public perception of the circles.We conclude with a roundup and basic evaluation of some commonly presented theories surrounding the mystery.Each chapter is sandwiched between several full color, annotated, photographs of actual crop circles.

I found The Deepening Complexity of Crop Circles to be a sufficient introduction to the field of cereology (the study of crop circles).Haselhoff does well to give us a fairly balanced tour of the technical problems which make the phenomenon as intellectually puzzling as it is.The text is a (perhaps uncharacteristically) fair treatment of the subject, as the author goes out of his way to avoid conjecture and exclude unqualified, "skeptical" points of view in favor of direct observations and physical data.I imagine this text would constitute an ideal read for armchair skeptics, or the otherwise uninitiated in the audience.We're provided with solid justification of why crop circles constitute an interesting and valid field of research, while simultaneously avoiding the gritty detail that would make the information inaccessible to those without scientific backgrounds.

I believe it can also be said that what makes The Deepening Complexity of Crop Circles worthy for casual observers may also make it unfit for the more technically curious among us.Much of the material within is not presented in particular depth, and therefore is not likely to satisfy many truly scientific minds.The author only tends to offer data from single physical instances for any topic being discussed (e.g. node length, balls of light, etc), while at the same time claiming that similar data is found in hundreds or thousands of other cases.As a result, the book at times falls frustratingly short of providing the depth of evidence that may be necessary to prove to hardcore skeptics that we're dealing with a globally distributed scientific curiosity; we're left with the author's word and footnotes to achieve that.Haselhoff also tends to spend a bit too much time dwelling on the role of skeptics and the media, in my opinion, and comes borderline to ranting (justifiably or not) by the end.Finally, if I may offer one last grammatical nitpick, the author abbreviates the term "Ball(s) Of Light" as BOL throughout his writing, while pluralizing it as "BOLs".Unfortunately, Balls Of LightS is not proper English (given context), and may read a bit oddly.

Ultimately, I think the value of this book will be proportional to what you expect to get out of it.If you are looking for a book to serve as a well-rounded introduction to crop circles, you should be pleased.The Deepening Complexity of Crop Circles successfully provides a justification for the study of the phenomenon, and should open many eyes to the fascinating occurrences therein.On the other hand, its brevity and shallow scientific depth will not be of significant value for those already familiar with the more detailed works on the topic.

Rating: 3.5/5

--
Matt LaPlante
2/4/2008

If you can't be an eyewitness
Beautiful glossies of the past decade's most significant crop circles coupled with an excellent popular scientific approach to the phenomenon.
The mathematics of crop circles, one of the book's appendices, is easy enough to follow by anyone with a high school knowledge of trigonometry. This text is good-looking enough to display on a coffee table!

A Hearty Endorsement
If you are going to read about crop circles, start with this book.The book is well written, taut, and short.The math is explained very well and should not be intimidating.He very quickly cuts through the esoteric overlays of "little space men" and supernatural interpretations that clutter up so many books on this topic.

Nicely written
A well worthwhile look at crop circles.The author puts forward his hypothesis, and he does so convincingly.Backing his statements up with well designed experiments that have at least been published in the scientific literature.My only criticism is that the book is too short.For someone with 12 years experience in the field the author either is very good at summarising all of his conjectures, or he deliberately simplifies it into a huge picture fest in an attempt to sell more books.More examples and more analyses would not have gone astray.Most definately a nice book to look at, and a very entertaining read for a couple of hours.

Well Written!
Dr. Haselhoff has written one of the best books on the controversal subject of crop formations (and I have read most of them.) I have seen and heard him interviewed. He is a scientist, and as such presents his findings in a completely unbiased fashion. His conclusion: People may be making these patterns, but we have no idea how. We are unable to explain the uniform node lengthening found in the plants, balls of light that have been videoed and photographed many times, dead files stuck to the plants, numerous instances of camera and watch batteries dying in these fields, etc. If there were a trivial explanation for this mystery, we would have found it 20 years ago. Read this book and others on the subject if you are interested in what may be the most important ongoing mystery in the world today. ... Read more

Book Description
Through both examination of the crop circles and channeled investigation, Crop Circles Revealed explores a new understanding, to help the people of the world and our mother planet survive the millennium.

Scientific formulas of light and sound and the wisdom found in the mythologies of the ages are brought together in this up-to-the-minute 2001 edition. This book lifts the crop circles away from the controversy of who makes them into the wonder of what they represent to us at this critical time in our history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Awesome book
I'm a "croppie" of sorts. I collect info about crop circles and I paint them. This book gives more detailed info about the actual energies present in specific crop circles, than any other book. The living energies of 67 crop circles are explained in detail. Researchers' personal experiences are also explained. The photos are good too.This is the ultimate crop circle book that I know of.

Great book, a must for a serious researcher
I use the information on the crops circles on my radionics machines. The explainations are a great help to mankind. For serious research this book is a must. Thanks for their tremendious dedication on bringing this information to mankind at this time.Caroline Connor Radionic Consultant

Spellbinding
Having read 'Crop Circles Revealed: Language of the Light Symbols' from cover to cover, I firmly believe that this is a work of almost flawless scholarship and accurate interpretation. The only fault I could find, albeit minor, is the obvious typo in the title; 'crop' should have been spelled with an 'a' not an 'o'.

But can you understand it?
From the crop circle/star glyph combo 16 - "This is the triadular desectotron quadraphonic code for the deactivation of plutonium poisoning. This crystalline matrix will be imploded in the consciousness of a team of researchers that will be able to reduce plutonium's half-life to a transmugenative equatronic base that will detoxify radiation poisoning. That is the star gate that the information is coming through. The matrix that is the crystalline geode for this information frequency will be activated in to the consciousness of a team of scientists who are going to resolve the plutonium half-life dilemma. The crop circle is the crystalline matrix for this formula."

Living Information!
Crop Circles Revealed, by Judith Moore and Barbara Lamb, engages not only the mind, but the heart and soul of the reader to seek out the truth of this stunningly beautiful phenomena. This work has been impeccably nurtured into form. It is both visually moving and thought provoking. Through the authors' comprehensive interpretation, the reader is drawn into a personal understanding of the crop circles as LIVING INFORMATION. He or she is then empowered to define the crop circle message from their inherent wisdom. This book is an experience. It awakens the spirit to a greater awareness of who we are, and why we are here! ... Read more

Book Description
Lucy Pringle has been photographing and researching crop circles for nearly twenty years. She here presents a catalogue of her awe-inspiring aerial photographs, guaranteed to amaze believers and skeptics alike. ... Read more

Book Description
The hypnotic effects and unexpected meanings of crop circle geometry. Crop circle patterns have fascinated people all over the world for decades. Although the phenomenon is surrounded by many mysteries, the huge, unfamiliar and powerful shapes are most intriguing. These shapes, in fact, can have a hypnotizing effect on those who gaze at them. But why? * What makes these shapes so compelling? * Why do these patterns have such strong effect on people? * What are the patterns attempting to communicate? An illustrated, magical journey through the miracles of crop circle geometry. Illustrated with color photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Most intriguing and highly recommended!
This magnificent book takes you on a journey through "crop circle world", a complete and unique world of its own. It has been excitingly and passionately written. It holds your attention, even if you are not into geometry! The best thing about it is the author's conclusions, that he dares to draw through his decade of work on these miraculous designs. His conclusions change your view on this world, on reality itself. No other author has ever discovered what Bert Janssen discovered, and no one has ever had the guts to write it all down and share it with the world! Absolutely highly recommended!!! ... Read more

Book Description
Linda Moulton Howe shares and analyzes her research findings surrounding accounts of crop circles, accompanied by lights and crackling sounds over the past 2 years. Linda interviews a biophysicist, a mathematician, a geologist, and other researchers to determine the authenticity of these accounts and whether these crop circles are a 3-dimensional language related to fractional math, geometrics, the Hebrew Kabala, or other symbolic mysteries, and what they could mean. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

An enjoyable romp among Britain's crop circles.
In this book, veteran UFO researcher Linda Moulton Howe turns her attention to the well-known crop circle phenomenon.In keeping with her UFO background, Howe focuses particular attention on the unusual light and aerial phenomena often associated with crop circle formation.There is also ample discussion of the chemical and biological effects of the crop circle energies on the affected biomass.

Profusely illustrated with dozens of black and white and color photos, the book explores the subject from the perspectives of modern science, mythology, symbolism, and the history of religion.(One caveat - if it is aerial color photos of spectacular crop circle formations that you are looking for, this book is not the best choice.There are only a few photos of the type beloved of calendar makers, and most of the photos are included either as "evidence" to make a scientific point or simply as snapshots of crop circle researchers and/or the quaint environment of Southwest England.)

This leads me to one of the things that I most liked about the book - the sense of adventure as Howe meets crop circle researchers from around the world as they converge on England in the summer of 1999.Thus we follow Howe to pubs for "bull" sessions about crop circles, and to nocturnal vigils atop misty hillsides.(And, if I may indulge a rather sexist comment, Howe is arguably the cutest researcher roaming the fields of England in pursuit of the riddle of the crop circles.)

An interesting addendum is a series of scale drawings or "surveys" of the major 1999 formations, as prepared by German researcher Andreas Mueller.Another useful addendum is a list of the names, addresses (both postal and e-mail), and websites of prominent crop circle researchers and organizations.

This book loses one star only because - despite her efforts to approach the phenomena from a scientific viewpoint - Howe is just a little bit too New Agey at times, a little too eager to jump to conclusions with insufficient evidence.But this is a minor fault, and others may reasonably disagree with my opinion on this.On the whole, I recommend this book as an enjoyable, first-hand account of fieldwork in pursuit of a modern mystery.

Factsand theories
There are lots of opinions, both from skeptics and believers alike surrounding the phenomena known as crop circles. This book will not necessarily sway you one way or the other but it will add fuel to the debate especially for the skeptics. I agree with the good Dr. Haselhoff from the Netherlands, whose outstanding book, "The Deepening Complexity of Crop Circles, Scientific Research and Urban Legends," states that the question of"light phenomena" in photographs and the "plasma theory" a little out there.Contrary to some reviewers opinions regarding the ho-hum nature of the people relating their experiences I found the style down to earth. The peoples experiences make the book easy to read, personaland it touches you as being real.The mysterious unknown is brought down to earth by the ordinary. It gives you a sense of being there.The part of the book that explains the goings onand an historical overview of Glastonbury is very interesting, especially for someone like me who is on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. The history surrounding Chalice Well and the Vesica Piscis design is something that stimulates thought concerning the origins of the phenomena. The color photographs are very special. Since there are no answers to the origins of the crop circles this book does not really give one. What does seem to be evident is that some type of electromagnetic field is responsibleand that we are probably not rationally or scientically equipped to understand why they are showing up, let alone what they mean. Is it some type of communication?Yes, as the crop circles convey sheer beauty, magnificent symetryand mystery beyond our comprehension. Recommended reading for those that are interested in some beautiful designs that could have some deeper meaning.

A Good Overview of the Anomalies Surrounding Crop Circles
This is one of the best books around for introducing readers to the weird anomalies associated with crop formations. As a veteran circle-researcher, Linda Moulton Howe is well qualified to discuss the variety of nonordinary phenomena that have long been experienced in and around crop circles. While we don't yet understand what causes these anomalies, Howe's book goes a long way in showing us that they are real events that are repeatedly experienced by crop circle researchers. Science has yet to explain these encounters.
In my view, Howe could have written more about the human element in the creation of crop circles and the anomalies they exhibit. And what is the relationship between the balls of light and human beings? Are these objects intelligently guided or are they just spurious electrical discharges? We don't have the answers for questions but this book establishes that these questions deserve serious investigation.
(Simeon Hein is the author of Opening Minds: A Journey of Extraordninary Encounters, Crop Circles, and Resonance (Mount Baldy Press, (2002))

Great information.
This is a very informative book on the crop circle phenomenon.I have not read any others so I have none to compare it to.However, the information and analysis presented in the book was enough to give me some ideas as to their origin, and recognize some commonality between the different types of circles.

It is liberally sprinkled with good illustrations and photographs(Albeit, some of them black and white...).

If you want to learn about crop circles and want a good balanced look at the phenomenon, this is a good starting place.

Great Book!
Fabulous book! I have always suspected that crop circles were real, and this book clinches it for me. The only negative side to the issue of crop circles is that all of those "vanished" crops could have been used to feed 1000s of people! These aliens (or whoever they are) seem very shortsighted. Higher intelligence? No way! Perhaps the crop circles only exist because hungry aliens are not bright enough to grow their own food! So what's the answer? All farmers should leave notes next to their fields saying "Do these crops look good to you, punk? Feeling lucky? If you take these crops you better pay for them (U.S. Dollars only, no currency from Andromeda)"! ... Read more

Book Description
Crop circles, those beautiful and complex patterns that are visible from the air in fields around the world, have long fascinated the public, media, and scientific community. Vital Signs is a comprehensive guide for newcomers to these puzzling patterns and an essential history for those who are already intrigued. Illustrated with hundreds of full-color and black-and-white photos, this chronological and photographic history is an accessible discussion of the various crop circle theories, physical and statistical evidence, and the surprising effects these formations have had on observers and researchers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Superb Photographs, Light on the Text

This is one of two first-rate books on crop circles and their implications for mankind that I recommend.This one is the "coffee table" book, with an absolutely sensational collection of clear color photographs that provide what I believe may be the single best collection of distinct crop circles at distinct times and places on the planet.

This book is however light on the text and the thinking.It should be read in conjunction with "Open Minds: A Journal of Extraordinary Encounters, Crop Circles, and Resonance," by Simeon Hein, Ph.D.

I am persuaded of three things by these books taken together and my various other readings:

1)The Earth is alive and everything on it is a web of life that has a global consciousness--the butterfly effect and the mind over matter effects are real.

2)There exist other forms of intelligence at least equal if not vastly superior to ours elsewhere, and I speculate from some of this reading that we are a "diversity enhancer" for a larger constellation of planets, and that we may also be failing a longer-term test to determine if we are ready for inter-planetary interaction.

3)There are, between books like this and the many very intelligent people that tend NOT to go into politics, clear possibilities for our rising to the challenge.We simply have not focused as a Collective Intelligence or World Brain, and we need to do so before we destroy our planet and our species.

Both books are almost mesmerizing.

Beautiful and Thought-Provoking
This is a graphically rich and comprehensive book full of beautiful photos and big ideas. Thomas stimulates our imagination and wonder about this mysterious phenomenon. However, like some other books in this genre, he fails to seriously address the issue of manmade crop formations. Nonewithstanding what some other reviewers on this page have said, manmade formations are a large, signficant, and important part of the crop circle scene. As many of these land art designs produce strange effects, like camera and battery failure, previously attributed only to "genuine" formations, books like Vital Signs need to address this aspect of the mystery, rather than simply dismissing manmade formations as "hoaxes." That being said, readers are bound to find this book a worthwhile and lasting investment.

(Dr. Simeon Hein is the author of OPENING MINDS: A Journey of Extraordinary Encounters, Crop Circles, and Resonance and PLANETARY INTELLIGENCE: 101 Easy Steps to Energy, Well-Being, and Natural Insight)

A Crop Circle Encyclopedia
Vital Signs is the most comprehensive guide to the beautiful and enigmatic crop circles ever written. Andy writes in a very clear and easy to read style, putting together an enormous amount of information, combined with loads of wonderful photos, many of them in color.
This book is a "must read" for any crop circle enthusiast.

A definitive history of the crop circles
When Andy Thomas' Vital Signs first came out in its UK edition in 1998, it was quickly seen as one of the best historical surveys of the post-1978 crop circle phenomenon. As a longtime editor of the journal of the Southern Circular Research group (now known as Swirled News at www.swirlednews.com), as well as a top-notch researcher himself, Thomas had been looking long and hard at the crop formations, from every angle, both inside and outside the glyphs. With great persistence, a feisty spirit, and often hilarious drama at such venues as the annual Glastonbury Symposium and the International UFO Congress, Thomas remains one of the fiercest defenders of the true crop circles, and a defender as well of the hard research that's been done on the phenomenon over the years. I'm happy to see that Vital Signs has come out in an updated version in the US, incorporating the glyphs from the intervening years, including the 2001 season. Readers unfamiliar with the first edition will want to buy this version, one of the best overviews of the phenomenon.

Vital Signs begins with a painstaking presentation of the ground-level data, including the unusual layering and swirls of the downed crop, while providing important details of the scientific work that's been done analyzing the effects on the stalks and soil, establishing the reality of the phenomenon beyond all the hoaxing. It then goes elaborately into what's seen from up above: the pictorial shapes and beautiful geometries, uncovering the mathematics encoded in the shapes. Along the way, we also learn of the strange balls of light (BOLs) seen hovering over the fields and of the effects of crop circle energies on electronic equipment and the biological systems of humans and animals. We're treated too to eyewitness accounts of crop circles forming, including the important recent case in Amsterdam when Nancy Talbott-a key scientific researcher and member of the BLT Research Team-along with Robbert van der Broeke, saw three powerful tubes of light descend into a bean field outside the van der Broeke home, only to discover a few minutes later that a structured crop circle had appeared in the field. It's stories like these that lead one to believe that crop circles are a key part of the worldwide UFO phenomenon.

One of the great strengths of Vital Signs is the year-by-year chronology it provides, as well as the beautiful photographic gallery that accompanies the text, including a central color section. It's a chronicle that not only describes the fascinating evolution of the crop formations over the years, but also the rabid atmosphere of controversy that has grown up around them: are they manmade, anomalous, or a mixture of both? How can you tell the real from the hoaxed and what's the percentage of each? Are the simple ones the true phenomenon, or are some of the more complex formations real as well? As Thomas juggles the assertions and denials on both sides of the fence-as well as the natural, supernatural, and ufological theories as to how they're made-what finally emerges is that, if any of them are not manmade (and much evidence supports the idea that many, perhaps most of them are not), then we have a genuine mystery that's growing in scope around the world. However, it's only ongoing, careful research that has the power to cut through the fog of disinformation. Vital Signs is a great introduction for those confronting the crop circles for the very first time, as well as a primary resource for long-time researchers still dazzled by the mysterious signs in the fields.

-Michael Miley is a contributing editor to UFO Magazine (US). ... Read more

Product Description
The cosmic meaning of 70 crop circles in Holland, North America, England and other European countries, ending with 4 circles summer 2005. The circles contain formulas which address problems on earth. ... Read more

Book Description
What are crop circles and what do they mean? Who-or what-is responsible for the thousands of complex patterns found in cereal crops all over the world? Are they made by aliens or Government satellites? Are they screams from a dying planet? Are we in danger, and are crop circles some kind of warning signal? Colin Andrews, author of the first book about the crop circle phenomenon, brings the world up to date with his many years of research into this fascinating subject. He takes you on a mysterious and informative ride into the world of the crop circle phenomenon, providing an overview and setting the record straight about the nature of crop circles, their origin, and their meaning. He and Stephen J. Spignesi, explore the many theories of crop circle formation, describe Colin's first experience with crop circles and how this led him into his life's work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Years of research later the mystery remains a mystery..
Colin Andrews calls himself the world's leading authority when it comes to crop circles and I wouldn't contest that -simply because i wouldn't know how- but the lingering question after reading his immensely interesting book is this:
-if the top authority on this phenomenon has no definite answer about what causes it after 20 long years of intense research we might start developing some cautious "pessimism" that we're a long way from the answer.

That having been said, this is a very good book on the subject albeit certain points that deserve critique.

Collins tries to condense all the information he has in a rather short book. The several theories about the causes are all listed and somwehat summarily explored, as are Collins's own speculations about it all. The book has numerous crop circle photographs as well (many of them spectacular).

Collins tries to put to rest the aging matter of whether crop circles are man made or not by sayign that his reserach has led him to believe that a whooping 80% of them are indeed man-made. This leaves of course 20% of them unexplained and this in turn is a huge number considering that there have been 1000s of crop circles reported and/or recorded around the world. If one considers that crop circles have been reported from time immemorial then the mystery deepens.

The crop circle phenomenon is in certain respects even more intriguing than the UFO one itself. One has the eerie feeling that a certain intelligence is trying to tell us something. If that would be true the implications are are of course of paramount importance. But even if that is not the case, still, any explanation holds tremendous interest. If one looks at certain crop circles, especially ones that have not been explained away as man-made, he will find it extremely difficult to explain them as geophysical phenomena exactly because of their sheer geometrical complication.

Collins does emphasize (i had the feeling) the gaia theory, a theory that professes that the earth is a living organism in itself and it has the ability to provide messages or "signs" when it is in danger. Very interesting indeed but even more difficult to support than that of the extraterrestrial interference.

There's various books out there about this subject and this one here is no bad place to start by any means. My notion is that one would serve himself well if he went on reading what other researchers have to say aboiut this all. What is certain is that no researcher -so far- has definite evidence about what he speculates as being the explanation. But that being the case it makes it all the more "obligatory" to entertain all available theories.

The Expert Has Spoken and Has Left Me Wanting
I had viewed a DVD entitled ULTIMATE CROP CIRCLES: SIGNS FROM SPACE? and very much enjoyed listening to leading researcher, Colin Andrews, discuss his findings. His is a very scientific approach to the mystery, which attempts to, but ultimately falls short of explaining what exactly is causing the worldwide crop circle phenomenon.

There are several theories - the best one allows for some sort of as yet undiscovered electromagnetic effect interfering with the natural magnetic fields of our planet, creating plasma vortexes in much the same way as tornados and hurricanes are conjured by wind vortexes. Andrews explores all the theories in this book, from UFO landings to poltergeist activity, with varying degrees of satisfaction.It is interesting to note that the great majority of circles appear within a forty mile radius of Stonehenge, which itself resembles the sedimentation of an ancient crop circle design.

All in all, after coming away very impressed from his lecture, I was immensely disappointed by this book. The organization of the book is very poor. The chapters bounce around from this topic to that in vignette form, often changing authors without a proper introduction, leaving me more than once wondering who was at the helm. Andrews spends an inordinate amount of time reporting on his spiritual growth since he took up the mystery. This is all very fascinating, and is no doubt part and parcel of the phenomenon, but without definitive conclusions on the mystery's cause, the ancillary anecdotal effects are just so much noise lost in the signal.

Although I have no doubt that some mysterious forces is responsible for most of the simple circles, Andrews left me with the impression that all of the more elaborate designs which have appeared in the past two decades are the product of pranksters, debunkers, and government operatives. Andrews goes so far as to say that the hoaxers are inextricably linked with the phenomenon, as if the mysterious forces are compelling them to create designs in cereal fields.

Andrews would do himself a great favor by codifying these arguments and focusing on data and not conjecture. I still respect him as the ultimate go to guy for the crop circle phenomenon, but I rather wish he had authored the definitive book on the subject rather than this random collection of postulates.

Mind Opening and Mysterious.
After two decades of research, Colin Andrews, the world's foremost authority on crop circles, has written what may be the most comprehensive book on the subject. Starting with his early years of research Andrews recounts some of his first crop circle encounters. Readers will learn about the characteristics of the phenomenon before complex patterns began to appear in the late 80's.

This is one of the few crop circle books to adequately explore the connection of crop circles with nature and global environmental conditions. Andrews continuously reminds us how crop circles serve to raise our awareness of the planet. Throughout the book, Andrews clearly wrestles with the reality of human circlemaking activity. Coming from someone who previously disregarded the significance of this aspect of crop circles, he still refers to it as "hoaxing," implying a certain degree of recklessness and irresponsiblity on the part of the human circlemakers. He also tacitly recognizes their role in the evolution of the patterns.

Personally, I think it is unfair to call these human-made patterns "counterfeits" given their beauty and genuinely weird effects on our cameras and other equipment. As far as I know, there is no evidence to suggest that any of the complex patterns made since the late 80's in England are created by anyone or anything else than human circlemakers. Nonetheless, Andrew's book bridges many different points of view and leaves us with a mystery rather than a closed case. As a bonus, the book contains a catalogue of every circle to appear in England since the 1980's. It is quite a sight to see all these patterns together. There are also detailed discussions of Project Blackbird and the Oliver's Castle video.

This book is recommended for anyone with a passing or strong interest in crop circles. You may not agree with Andrews on every point but you are certain to come away with a greater appreciation of the phenomenon and the mysteries that surround it.

(Dr. Simeon Hein is the author of Opening Minds: A Journey of Extraordinary Encounters, Crop Circles, and Resonance (2002, Mount Baldy Press, Inc.)

The expert has spoken!
I knew that Colin Andrews was the technical advisor for the movie Signs and had seen him in a variety of Crop Circle documentaries, I think on the Discovery Channel (it seems he's in every doc. every made on crop circles)! Now I know why he's always on them -- This is an excellent book, even (especially) for non-"woo woo" people who really want to know about crop circles. Are they real? Where do they come from? How do we know? Colin Anderes has done a fantastic job. And the four color photo insert is spectacular. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Worth the money, even if all you do is look at the pictures
While living in Europe, I had the unique experience of seeing a crop circle. It doesn't matter whether you believe they are human or alien made, there is no debate about the fact that crop circles are beautiful and this book does a superb job of showing off their beauty.

The photos are great, and the information provided about the history, origins and stories surrounding them is interesting.

Target audience: Conspiracy theorists interested in crop circles, people who love aerial photos of nature and possibly even just people who live near fields of crops --> as you drive by tall fields of crops, you'll look at them a little differently once you've been exposed to the world of crop circles. It might even be a fun gift for a someone who might enjoy trying to 'fake' a crop circle as an activity.

Natural Magic
A beautifully illustrated and well-designed book, the pictures and stories elucidate the feelings of wonder and transcendence that surround the crop circle phenomenon. The authors balance their presentation by including true accounts from some ofEngland's leading circle makers. The section on natural laws and geometry is also original and informative.
(Simeon Hein is the author of Opening Minds: A Journey of Extraordinary Encounters, Crop Circles, and Resonance). ... Read more

Book Description
Jay Goldner takes the reader on a step-by-step, clear and compelling adventure in decoding the message from space and explains why this may well be the first indisputable evidence that extraterrestrial intelligence is trying to communicate with the earth's inhabitants. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Indisputable evidence - well documented
I read and reviewed "Messages From Space" earlier this year for a print publication. I am currently writing for two websites and wished to add some comments to this review area.
When I initially picked up this book, I was as skeptical as most might be. However, Jay Goldner's research was as fascinating as it was convincing. His finding's are presented in a clear and concise format that show there is more to the Crop Circle phenomenon than is being told to the public.
Though it has been proven in the past that some Crop Circles have indeed been hoaxes, the sheer numbers (over 10,000)and intricacies make it impossible for them all to be.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has even a passing interest in the subject.

Michael Edwards
... Read more

Book Description
Some things in the world remain mysterious. These things are called phenomenon. They puzzle and fascinate us. Crop circles are one of these mysterious things. ... Read more

Book Description
The author skillfully blends the analytical skills of a former USAF pilot and years of experience as a commercial pilot in deciphering the enigmatic mystery of crop circle formations that began appearing in farmer's fields in 1988. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent
Even if you dont believe in aliens or crop circles it is hard to ignore the math behind what he is saying. whether its true or not doesnt matter cause the math and science of the blueprints are based on basic principals.the craft in the book would work if we had the technology to build one.
I think people start this book with a bias against it and that prevents them from seeing that this is real.
scientist and scholars should read this book.
I only hope Doug can create a follow up book of any new things he has found. Looking forward to the video.

2 guys creating a 750 long and very intricate crop circle is totally absurd. There is now way they could create the very complex circles in one night. they can re-create certain ones but not the complex ones.

keep up the good work doug and please give us another book to read.

Intriguing and original.
The Gift is a thought-provoking examination of the phenomenon of "crop circles" (glyphs or pictograms). By employing a novel and creative approach to understanding these images (derived from "common sense and intuition"), Ruby extrapolates from the two-dimensional glyphs three-dimensional models, with eye-popping results. Ruby concludes from his research that the pictograms originate from extraterrestrial entities. He believes the sequence of the appearance of these images are building blocks to man's understanding of messages. These messages have begun with a description of UFO's physical structure and propulsion systems. These glyphs provide ever-more information as they progress in complexity.
Whether Ruby's "decoding" is correct or not, it is facile to dismiss the reality of a true mystery. It is certainly correct that many of these "circles" are hoaxes. There was even a "crop circle making" competition in England. However, research by scientists like Charles Levengood and Nancy Talbott have shown empirically that "real" crop circles show changes at the cellular level (which can be replicated by short, intense bursts of microwave energy). There is also no breakage of the stalks of the plants, only bending. This cannot be done by hoaxers. Aside from that, the notion that two English geezers and copycats are creating thousands of such glyphs worldwide, showing complex fractal geometry patterns, and leaving no trace of their presence, is ridiculous. The recent (Aug.01) Chilbolton, England glyphs will sorely test the hoax hypothesis. Carl Sagan offered his biased, mechanistic view, conveniently ignoring that which did not fit; Jim Schnabel ('Dark White')seems to be more of a debunker than an open-minded skeptic. Both provide a convenient out for those who prefer their ordered and safe world view. If you aren't afraid to consider other possibilities, however, this work will deliver.

Alternative Viewpoints
I heartily recommend this interesting book, which presents a refreshingly different perspective. As for the reviewer promoting Jim Schnabel's 'Round in Circles' as a solution to the mystery, it would be foolish indeed to jump to the conclusion that a known CIA agent is going to present the public with unadorned facts, given that government disinformation on this subject, media manipulation, and the 'Firm's role in it, is already well documented.

Our Allegiance to What?A Hoax?
The previous reviewer says (in rather poor grammar) that anyone who questions the "reality" of this nonsense should have their "allegiance" questioned.Well, I pledge allegiance to the flagof the United States of America, and recommend you check out Jim Schnabel's"Round in Circles" before you waste any more of your hard-earneddough on this or any other book extolling the "reality" of cropcircles!

Debunk the debunkers
Whoever assault this book and the whole subject of extra-terrestrial life ought to be investigated for their allegiance.This is an excellent documentary on crop circles and only Time Magazine has enough clout tofalsify the truth and make it stick.In the mind of the simple minded thatis. ... Read more

Book Description
Since the late 1970s, crop circles have been appearing in grain fields all across the globe, but especially in Southern England. These large graphic designs are created through the contrast between the light-catching, flattened grain, swirled to the ground, and the darker grain left standing in the fields. The beauty of the art can be seen in its entirety from the air, and such space-filling, dynamic patterns are evidence that creative, intelligent CircleMakers are intentionally marking the Earth. But why they do it and who they are remain mysteries. In Crop Circles, Mary Nelson speculates on possible answers to these questions.

Nelson takes the view that crop circles are a new art form. The record of civilization can be read through a study of art history. Today, CircleMakers are using land as a canvas. She asks, what do crop circles reveal about our own period? Are these huge artworks alerting us to increase our awareness, to follow an elevated path, more spiritual and less material, more in harmony and less adversarial, more of a circle than a box, so that humanity can at last fulfill its evolutionary destiny instead of destroying itself?

In Crop Circles Nelson combines the viewpoint of an art historian with that of artist and seeker to probe the connection between the crop formations and developments in contemporary thought.

There is also a special hardcover edition available with a linen slipcase and accompanied by original artwork by Mary Carroll Nelson.

Nelson combines the viewpoint of an art historian with that of an artist to probe the connection between the crop formations and developments in contemporary thought. ... Read more

Book Description
Describes the appearance of the phenomena known as crop circles and offers various explanations as to how they were created. ... Read more

Book Description
A Dutch crop circle researcher decodes recent crop circles applying ancient Sumerian and numerology. In this engaging, well-illustrated book, both scientific and historical, the author links two separate crop circles, both near Alton Barnes in England, each containing an old Hebrew inscription and a Double Helix. They yield the name of the 'maker', his message, important facts and the summary of human history. This information finally cracks the crop circle code, which communicates the true history of mankind and the return of the 12th Planet. Read who the gods were and how they are still here to prepare us for the coming dimensional transformation in 2012. Chapters include:

* The Seven Seals of Atlantis

* Planet X: Nibiru

* The Cross

* Symbol of Nibiru

* Genetic Manipulation

* The Sexagesimal System of Numbers

* Is the Great Pyramid Older than 10,450 BC?

* 12 Strands of DNA?

* 52: The Game of Thoth

* Tellurium

* Gematrian Numbers

* A Return of the Gods in 2012?

* Proof of a 12th Planet? ... Read more

Book Description
What are the best explanations that we obtain when we apply techniques used to analyse the Apollo XIII problems to the unexplained phenomena of UFO sightings, alleged alien abductions, animal mutilations and crop circle formation? This is a radically different approach to the case-by-case methodology traditionally used in studies of these phenomena. What is the probability that aliens really are to blame? The answer might surprise you... ... Read more