DD 111-115.999 (Tony) Measuring Eternity: The Search for the Beginning of Time by Martin Gorst (115 Gor)

Measuring Eternity was a pleasant surprise. A trojan horse for the literary world. While on the outside, it is touted as a history of cosmology and the famous attempts of scientists, astronomers, and physicists to determine the age of the universe. The inside is filled with philosophy. Like those residents of Troy, I too allowed this "horse" into my home and was surprised by it's contents.

What I expected was an examination (and by that I mean extermination) of the Christain belief that the universe and earth were not created in 7 days. I was on guard to reject the authors attempt to discredit the authority of the Bible. I was even prepared to forgive any I anger I may have from reading a blasphemy. I was on guard.; ready for those attacks to my Christain faith, prepared for a spiritual attack.

However, unlike the original occupants of the Trojan Horse, I was not murdered or plundered by what was hidden. In fact, the only one who seems destroyed by this books contents was the author himself.

I have a love for the unknown, and despite not doing well in it in high school, I enjoy reading up on physics and qunatum machanics. I may not understand the equations, but I have the type of brain that can understand concepts, when reasonably explained. Martin Gorst does a great job making the complex more simple. From a medieval bishop's biblical research that results in the estimate that universe was created on a Sunday evening some 6004 years ago to modern day scientists listening to intergalactic radio static and saying that the universe is billions and billions of years old; the author covers almost every major "discovery" to the age of the known (and ever growing) universe.

Yet, every time Gorst seems to disprove creationism, there's some flaw in his rhetoric that just validates the Word of God in Genesis chapters 1-5. Take for example the authors explanation of how Archbishop James Ussher came to determine that the Universe was created in the year 4004 B.C. First, Gorst explains how in the past 100 years scholars and clergy have agreed that the birth of Christ did not happen on the year 0. However, due to some mathematical errors made with our calendars, Christ was, with almost certainty, born in the year 4 B.C. Second, Gorst, goes in to detail how Ussher came up with his date of creation, by taking the years omitted from the Bible between King Nebuchadnezzar's death in 562 B.C. and adding 3442 years (amount of time recorded to have transpired in the old testament before the King's death) to it and coming up with 4004 B.C.

Then instead of disproving theses findings (as Martin Gorst is clearly trying to do) the author points out how funny it, that James Ussher came up with a date not based on round numbers, but with 4 years added. A coincidence like this one, listen between pages 30-35, doesn't cause me to refute the Bible's claims of a 7 day creation. It's actually strengthen my faith.

Like myself, Gorst plays devil's advocate accepting possiblities. Like the Chrstian theory that both the Bible may be right and the universe may be billions of years old. And this conflict could fit, because the Bible states that 1000 years in like a second in the eyes of God.

Also, sometimes I scoff at some religious theories, like Martin Gorst does. Just because you are a man of God, it doesn't mean you are perfect or correct. (If you notice some of my run-on sentences, you'll agree, I'm Not perfect) For example, the author finds it odd that the Archbishop added a month, date, and time to when creation happen. Would the creation start a 0?

Though Gorst has trouble proving his beliefs that the Bible is wrong, he is a master storyteller. He really makes these historical figures come alive: especially his work on Edwin Hubble. With Hubble, you find a warm and friendly person. Someone who is the anti-scientist, unlike Einstein, who rejects anyone who's theory are flawed. Thanks to the author, you really get to know these great men and women. And are sadden with their passing, like Hubbles. When I read of how he died, I felt so sad, even though I knew he had died almost half a century ago.

Lastly, Gorst writes an amazing history on one aspect of philosophy: the beleif of when the universe was created. His tome is not preachy, nor boring, except when math is involved ( and I really think the boredom is my fault). Again, like the Trojan Horse, "Measuring Eternity" is a true surprise for me. I really thought I was done with the philsophy section of our Dewey Project. So when I got to this book, I was so ready for a fresh subject. Yet, the word "Philosophy" keeps popping up. Searching for he beginning of time is the eptiome of what the Greeks were looking for: a way to combine science and religion.

Today's world tries to keep it apart. With events in history like the Scopes Monkey trial, and current issues like cloning and stem cells, science and religion are not opposite poles of a magnet, destined to never meet head on. True, science and religion are rivals, very much like the opposing armies of the Greek epic called the Trojan: The Achaeans and the Trojans, forever linked through history to be each other eternal enemies. However, science and religion are two armies that eventually must agree to meet if a clear answer is ever to be found.

Thankfully for readers interested in coming closer to the answer of this debate, you have a Trojan Horse to secretly bring both parties together. And a master craftsman, named Martin Gorst, to thank for being brave enough to complete the task at hand.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes.....

Frank Miller's "Sin City" is an example of the many graphic novels that are available in the 741-00-741.50 category of the Dewey Decimal System.

It's come to our attention that the Chapel Hill Public Library has decided to change the qualifications for books that fit in the 741.00-741.50 category of the Dewey Decimal System. According to the Dewey Decimal System, 741.00-741.50 is the listing for books of the following: graphic novels/comic book fiction, the history of graphic novels/ comics industry, comics (humor), and how to draw and or create graphic novels and comics.

However, CHPL has changed this, by deciding to move the fiction out of it's original classification and into a completely new category- Graphic Novel (Or GN as it is now listed on the book's spine). In relation to this, Young Adult graphic novels (fiction) will also be introduced to this new category. However, Youth graphic novels will continue to stay in the 741-741.5 non-fiction department of the children's section.

I spoke will representatives of other libraries in the Orange County area, including a Mrs. Roberta, from the Hillsborough, NC branch (Which is Jan and I's home library). Roberta said in regards to the change that "Chapel Hill's library is seperate entity from the libraries in the Orange County Library system.". She went on to explain that the change is not due to any changes in the Dewey Decimal System that she is aware of. However, Roberta reported that "many libraries are starting to put the Manga ( Japanese graphic novels) into a section by themselves", and advised that I talk with Chapel Hill about this change.

A representative from the CHPL confirmed that no changes have been made to the Dewey Decimal System, but felt that the change was needed to create space for a "growing section" of the library. A Manga section is also being created for the Adults, but Young Adult Manga will stay mixed with Young Adult Graphic Novels. From what I have seen of the Young Adult section, this is probably due to space.

I also made sure to ask if the Graphic Novel section was fiction or non-fiction. Amazingly enough, the CHPL rep. wasn't sure, but thought it "surley would be in fiction."

So, I am left with a problem, do I keep Graphic Novels in this project of not. The same goes for Manga. I really would love to include GN in our project, my wife, not so much. So, until we get to that section, I will leave that matter closed. It;ll be at least 3 years before we get to that section, and by then, they might return to the 741-741.5 section of Adult Non-Fiction.

Until then, my dear readers, and lovers of Graphic Novels and Manga, be aware of these changes as similar ones might affect your readings at your local library. And as always, if you cannot find what you are looking for, Please (do what I did) and ask your local librarian. That's what they are there for.

DD 106-110.999 (Tony) The History of Philosophy by Martyn Oliver (109 Oli)

At last-a philosophy book which focuses more on the philosophers than on the doctrines they espoused! This book is a godsend for a reader like me who enjoys the cold, hard facts and has trouble understanding the abstract thoughts. "The History of Philosophy" offers 190 pages of entries and pictures about nearly every major philosopher from the Greek era to the pop culture era.

That does not mean that this book devalues the other difficult books I've read prior to this entry in the Dewey Decimal system project. In fact, it has helped me appreciate many of the philosophies discussed in my earlier readings byt giving me a better understandng of what many philosophers' lives and cultures were like that caused them to create the ideas on life they thought up. Oliver's biggest problem is that his chronology becomes skewed once he begins to cover the era of the enlightenment, at which point, he begins going backwards, forwards, and sometimes, nowhere, apparently trying to cover every philosopher that ever lived. While his entries on Karl Marx and major Nazi Germany philosophers are fasicnating, they do not belong in the chapter that cover the American and French revolutions.

"The History of Philosophy " is designed to be a coffee table book, and I admit, I didn't read 190 pages of text with this choice, because of the numerous pictures, but I just couldn't sit through another work about things that might be, if we just live a certain person's way. That's why I took philosophy in college-and ended up hating it. There are, however, many books at the Chapel Hill branch library that are manifestos of many great philosophers, like Sartre, and for those inspired to explore the Dewey Decimal system, feel free to challenge yourself. I, on the other hand, felt that I had already challenged myself with two prior exhaustive works of philosophy, and thus decided to use a lifeline.

Believe me, I really needed to do that!