Signs & Seasons: Understanding the Elements of Classical Astronomy ... [Hardcover]

Jay Ryan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2007

Signs & Seasons is an introduction to “Classical Astronomy,” the traditional, historical approach to the sky, as had been practiced from ancient times. The biblical basis for astronomy

Product Details

• Hardcover: 262 pages
• Publisher: Fourth Day Press (2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979221102
• ISBN-13: 978-0979221101
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,102,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astronomy as a Liberal Art, April 21, 2009

By 

Wesley Callihan "Schola Classical Tutorials" (Potlatch, ID USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Signs & Seasons: Understanding the Elements of Classical Astronomy ... (Hardcover)

For most of history, until the advent of electric lights, everyone knew the constellations, the names and paths of the stars and planets, and the phases of the moon; and they could roughly tell time by the stars as well as by the sun. Furthermore, throughout western history, astronomy was considered one of the seven liberal arts, a knowledge that was not only interesting but elevating like poetry and music, and intellectually strengthening like mathematics; and because of that, references to the heavens are everywhere in literature and poetry, and so we miss out on a large part of their meaning because we no longer know the heavens. The entire upper half of our vision when we're outdoors at night is terra incognita to us.

It doesn't have to be that way. I've been teaching classical astronomy for many years, and Jay Ryan's Signs and Seasons is the best text I know of for those teaching at home who want to participate in this important part of our cultural heritage. Jay's fascinating and systematic presentation of the fundamentals of the heavens, his quotations from authors throughout history, and his clear and illuminating illustrations all serve to create interest as well as understanding. His supplementary materials go even further in helping the home teacher to lead their student through the process of understanding the heavens. Best of all, Jay's method and sequence of introducing the appropriate information reinforces the classical method of learning - that is, the process of studying astronomy through this text reinforces the development of clear understanding of particulars (grammar), a vigorous understanding of the connections between those particulars (logic), and a coherent expression of both (rhetoric). The text encourages reason as well as delight.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must to have!, April 19, 2009

By 

Perla Adams - See all my reviews

This review is from: Signs & Seasons: Understanding the Elements of Classical Astronomy ... (Hardcover)

Few months after its publication, I got a copy of Sign and Seasons. My intention was to use the book as a unit study in the homeschooling vacation. Being close to that time, I took it from the bookshelves, and oh no, I can not believe I leave this book all these months sleeping in the bookshelves.

Signs and Seasons is one of the most well written books I have seen for homeschoolers. It takes you by the hand thru a new area for us twenty-one century citizens. Classical Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences and has been one of the most important subjects in all human history. The Classical Astronomy has been neglected by modern curriculums.

This one tome curriculum is recommended for children 13 years and up, but is so well written and has many quotations from the Scriptures and ancient, medieval and modern authors. I am using it to read at loud to my four year old son. The book has also many illustrations, not the type to entertain children, the ones for learning. The book in addition to cover the major topics in classical astronomy has a large glossary of terms, short biographies of the quoted authors, and Field Activities.

This is the kind of curriculum that you can study as a family, going all together to observe the night sky, dusting off your ability to observe and just enjoy God wonderful creation.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Naked Eye Sky, July 8, 2009

By 

Jane S. Poole "theheavensspeak" (WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Signs & Seasons: Understanding the Elements of Classical Astronomy ... (Hardcover)

For a while my interest in astronomy was hampered by the belief that one had to get into telescopes to enjoy the night sky. This book dispelled that idea. There's something freeing about observing the sky just as one would observe wildlife or geologic formations. It's part of our world and the more we understand it, the richer we are. Signs & Seasons gives astronomy back to the common man.

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