Alan Butler (1) (1951–)

It was an interesting book & a great view of history from an other than normal point of view. World economics, innovation, political struggles over sheep? Yes, indeed & he does make a pretty good case for it - a fairly entertaining one. One of his references was [a:Daniel Defoe|2007|Daniel Defoe|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1202587497p2/2007.jpg] who, besides writing [b:Robinson Crusoe|2932|Robinson Crusoe|Daniel Defoe|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298412056s/2932.jpg|604666], also show more traveled about Britain & wrote [b:A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain : Abridged Edition|953376|A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain Abridged Edition |Daniel Defoe|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179765382s/953376.jpg|170780]. Quotes of Defoe's observations lent a lot of strength to his arguments.

I would have liked a bit more specifics about the sheep themselves & the arts of turning their wool into cloth. All his observations were general & would probably be fine for most, but Mom raised them for a number of years so I know a bit more than average & would have liked to know more. He didn't cover that & most probably will be glad that he didn't.

Mechanically, his writing was pretty good. He sometimes swarmed around in time & came back by the same era & people several times but each time it was from a different angle. He tied together cause & effect nicely, without swamping me with too many disparate details all at once. Even if I wasn't familiar with that particular time & place in history, by the time he was finished, I had a pretty good view of it.

I also really appreciated the way he finished each chapter with a paragraph or two that concisely summed up the point he'd made throughout. Very well done, readable, understandable & memorable. show less

Of the few books I have read about the Chapel this is by far the most informative. I learned so much about architecture,art, the many religions and the many mysteries surrounding the Chapel and the Sinclairs. The pictures showed what a wonderful and beautiful place it truly is. I want to visit Scotland some day and the Chapel is on my list, but while reading, I truly felt like I was there. Wonderfully written and I highly recommended it.
I wrote this review based on a digital ARC from the show more publisher Watkins Publiushing and Net Galley. show less

What an interesting book. I read this a couple of years ago and found it very eye opening. An alternative look at science. The Moon is a mysterious and enigmatic heavenly body. The ancients were as obsessed with the Moon equally as the Sun. Sometimes it is good for the mind to explore other theories of the Moon. Think outside of the box or, cube.

Who built the moon? How did it come to be?

Was it, as in the Bible, created by a deity?

Was it dragged here by some alien race?

Just left there show more floating, in outer space

Is it a remnant of another heavenly body? A boulder?

Is the Earth young? Is the Moon much older?

Does the Moon control the tides? Like they tell us so

The Oceans, the seas, their ebb and flow

Is the Moon a death star? Like in the movie flicks

Is the Moon an illusion? Is it playing tricks?

One side is dark, the other shines bright

Glowing in the night sky, emitting false light

Does the Moon make people crazy? Lunar, lunacy, madness

When the Moon is Blue, are we filled with sadness?

When the planets align, is this prophecy, like the Bible says

Or just a giant clock, ever lasting, always

Is the Moon a soul catcher? Like the dream works logo

Fishing for souls, recycling them, preventing them to go

Where souls are meant to be, their destiny, a place of no suffering and pain

Does the Moon send souls back to Earth? To live another life, and repeat all over again

So who built the Moon? How did it come to be?

Was it, as in the Bible, created by a deity?

By Leo show less

Who Built the Moon? by Christopher Knight and Alan Butler I know, but I am a sucker for these kind of books, full of interesting facts with a half life measured in seconds, preposterous theories that really are believable as long as you suspend your disbelief.

And I guess that's it, that's what I like, that suspension of disbelief in the face of incredible odds.

For the life of me I really don't remember what this was about but I did enjoy it and I believed every word too.