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Beyond Velikovsky: The History of a Public Controversy |
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You Are Here: Home > History Books > Iceland History > Item 349
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Beyond Velikovsky: The History of a Public Controversy
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by Henry H. Bauer
Sales Rank: 1070419
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List Price: $22.00
$19.80
At Amazon
on 11-27-2008.
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Features
Cover Type: Paperback with 368 pages
Published by: University of Illinois PressEdition: 1st Edition August 3, 1999
Written in: English
ISBN 10 Number: 0252068459
ISBN 13 Number: 978-0252068454
Book Dimensions:
9 x 6 x 1 inches
Weighs: 1.4 pounds
Reader Reviews
This review is from: Beyond Velikovsky: The History of a Public Controversy (Hardcover)
Part 1 of Mr Bauer's book- 'The Story of the Velikovsky Affair'- is presented and reads like a fair summary of the whole controversy. On the face there presides reason, fairness; the impartiality of a judge's summary. But the unwary reader is not prepared for the true motives of this book, the subtle but quite blatant intention of the author to deliver not a judge's deliberation but a prosecutor's summing up..... Part 2 is called, 'Velikovsky, Right or Wrong?', throughout which the reader is presented more than once with an awkward feeling; an awkward question- 'Is this book REALLY fair... or could I be the victim of some barrister's rhetoric?' It becomes increasingly clear that this book is an ATTACK upon it's subject disguised as an even-handed and fair account, which leads to the book's negative conclusion about Velikovsky. To see Bauer's true position- not the moderator but the persecutor- there's no need to delve within the specifics. The gift of this book to the fair minded reader is that, really, it's all so plain. Just stand back and observe, for instance, that NO analysis is made of ANY of V's historical work in any way and already it is clear. References to V's science are only in the form of selective criticisms, and these deliberately limited to the broadest and most speculatory of V's theories. To say as well that these references are ALL that Bauer uses to successfully brand V a 'pseudo-scientist' and we are left with a work of the most simple character. No space is devoted to V's scientific application of history or the areas in orthodox science (carbon dating, archaeology, astronomy) which undoubtedly bare out his theories- as well as those that don't. Although the positive aspects of V's work are never denied by Bauer, he consistently underplays these while referring in detail to the negative. In overview we see the prosecutor exposed. He has to tread between the lines and limit his case to that which is easily muddied and confused. Beyond Velikovsky is weighted; it is unfair and biased. NO discussion is held on any of V's actual theories- only a pedantic and misleading analysis of SOME of his scientific references and approaches. Bauer deals with such a narrow spectrum of V's work that the book itself suffers from bad structure- the first two parts concluded and the main conclusions reached before it is half through. The reader is left only to peruse a series of space filling chapters in part 3- 'Beyond the Velikovsky Affair'- with such offerings as 'Motives for Believing' and 'Means of Persuasion' and 'Realities About Science'. Thus, by showing us a corner of the picture; a piece of the puzzle, Bauer reveals to us the smallness and the entirety of his ambitions. This book could never have been conceived as a fair, impartial analysis. The book I read was a pedantic, narrow and deceptive piece of scholarship.
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Beyond Velikovsky: The History of a Public Controversy
Available from Amazon
Price: $19.80
Updated on 11-27-2008.
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