A Personal Journal to the Wonders of the World [Paperback]

Alan Blain Cunningham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 4, 2003

Join the author on a personal journey to the Seven Natural Wonders of the world and to the Seven Man-made Wonders - Natural Wonders: Amazonia. Angel Falls. Ayers Rock. Blue Grotto. Grand Canyon and More. Rainbow Bridge. Victoria Falls. Man-made Wonders: Crazy Horse. Empire State Building. Golden Gate Bridge. Great Wall of China. Machu Picchu. Petra. Taj Mahal. Throughout my life I have been intrigued by the Wonders of the World. Commonly there are seven listed wonders each in the categories of ancient, man-made, and natural. Of the seven ancient wonders only the Great Pyramid in Egypt still remains. After graduating from veterinary school I visited many of the world's wonders and marveled at their beauty. And I came away realizing how small and universal the world really is. My stories reveal what I saw and as importantly, what I learned as a world traveler - that basically most people are good and want the same thing - to be happy, healthy, and to be treated decently and fairly. Another important lesson I gained was how to recognize and appreciate intelligence and greatness. These qualities are found in people willing to journey outside the ordinary to visualize the wonders within themselves and the world. In other word, people of vision. These people can be discovered anywhere from lowly dirt floor huts to majestic granite walled cathedrals. They may be seen cradling a baby, crafting an art piece, playing a song, planting a flower, or holding an animal. Albert Einstein wrote, "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious." So join me in this insightful journey to the Wonders of the World. Dr. Alan B. Cunningham is one of twenty worldwide veterinarians selected to participate in the Medical Curriculum for Professionals Program, leading to a Doctor of Medicine Degree at the University of Health Sciences Antigua. After graduating from medical school, he will be providing medical and veterinary services to rural and medically und

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Join the author on a personal journey to the Seven Natural Wonders of the world and to the Seven Man-made Wonders. Natural Wonders: Amazonia. Angel Falls. Ayers Rock. Blue Grotto. Grand Canyon. Victoria Falls. Rainbow Bridge. Man-made Wonders: Crazy Horse. Empire State Building. Golden Gate Bridge. Great Wall of China. Machu Picchu. Petra. Taj Mahal. Intelligence and greatness are qualities found in people willing to journey outside the ordinary to visualize the wonders within themselves and the world. In other word, people of vision. These people can be discovered anywhere from lowly dirt floor huts to majestic granite walled cathedrals, universities, and courtrooms. They may be seen cradling a baby, crafting an art piece, playing a song, planting a flower, or holding an animal. Albert Einstein wrote, “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.”

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

On May 3, 1947, a self-taught sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski, arrived to the Black Hills of South Dakota. He had accepted the Sioux Indians invitation to carve the great Indian warrior Crazy Horse. Korczak was born in Boston of Polish descent, orphaned at the age of one, and grew up in foster homes. He never received a formal lesson in sculpture, art, engineering, or architecture. In 1939 he won first prize for sculpture at the New York World's Fair. This prompted Sioux Indian Chiefs to invite him to carve Crazy Horse. That summer Korczak worked briefly as an assistant to Gutson Borglum at the Mt. Rushmore Memorial just seventeen miles northeast from the future Crazy Horse site. Mt. Rushmore was to be a monument to the founding principles of a democratic society. Korczak was respected by the Indians as the storyteller in stone. "My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes, too," wrote Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear. The Indians insisted that Crazy Horse be carved in their Sacred Black Hills. They chose a six hundred foot monolith which Korczak named Thunderhead Mountain. Initially the sculptor had planned to carve only the top one hundred feet of the granite mountain. "I didn't intend to make it this large, you know. I intended to make it one hundred feet high but that size figure would look like nothing, so I decided to carve the whole mountain." In actuality, Korczak was not only carving a mountain, he was shaping a dream to represent all the North American Indians. He also promised that the Crazy Horse Monument would be a "nonprofit educational and cultural humanitarian project financed by the interested public and not with government tax money.” Korczak pledged to never accept a salary for his work. When he started work on the mountain in 1948 Korczak was almost forty, living in a tiny log studio-home, and had only one hundred seventy four dollars left to his name. He would devote the remainder of his life to carving the mountain. The following was written in May, 1949, by Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski: Crazy Horse was born on Rapid Creek in the Black Hills of South Dakota in about 1842. While at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, under a flag of truce, he was stabbed in the back by an American soldier and died September 6, 1877 – age 35(?). Crazy Horse defended his people and their way of life in the only manner he knew.

Product Details

• Paperback: 116 pages
• Publisher: Agreka Books (June 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888106638
• ISBN-13: 978-1888106633
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,065,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars I Liked It, August 13, 2009

By 

Readergurl (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Personal Journal to the Wonders of the World (Paperback)

I liked this book, but i would've loved it if it was longer. I would have loved to hear more about the author's journeys and feelings on these trips, and on viewing the sites.

I wanted to learn about the Wonders of the World, and this did teach me alot in a short amount of time.

5.0 out of 5 stars INFO ON WONDERS, March 19, 2009

By 

Kevin W. Kunz "Kev.w.k." (Buena Park, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: A Personal Journal to the Wonders of the World (Paperback)

[...]
THIS BOOK IS VERRY GOOD. IT IS SHORT WELL WRITTEN.
"SMALL WONDERS". MAKES ONE FEAL THAT ONE TOOK THIS
JURNEY WITH HIM!.

5.0 out of 5 stars small wonders, August 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A Personal Journal to the Wonders of the World (Paperback)

a fun and interesting journey to the wonders of the world near and far.