Rating: 
Summary: Interesting with a notedly Masonic tinge
Review: This is a thought provoking yet reptitive work. It is already well known that Pythagoras spent time in Egypt so it is logical to assume that he learned some of his mathematics there. I denoted a particularly Masonic "tinge" early in the book and this was confirmed when the author compared Socrates to a Master Mason. I thought this a bit of a stretch, but some Masons want to be able to trace the history of their society back to ancient times. Afrocentric and Eurocentric are only terms, not always diametrically opposed. But what about "humano-centric"?
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Summary: Ever been in Egypt and Greece?
Review: ...if not, do that. Then think for yourself -like, where are all the stadiums and the theaters of Egypt? Or the pyramids of Greece?
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Summary: A REAL EYE OPENER
Review: In this book, James aims to reveal the truth about Africa's contribution to the world. It is a repetitive and well detailed account of a clouded history. James provides the reader with an opportunity to check his references in order to establish fact from fiction. Doing so has allowed me to grasp a better understanding of the subject matter. Stolen Legacy, thoroughly illustrates several aspects of the Greek/Egyptian experience. This includes who the Egyptians were and what contributions they have made, how the Greeks received education from them, and the invasion and subsequent piracies of the Greek. The end product is a pivotal tool for the re-education of the world. Stolen Legacy provides us with information vital to our future. However, James' style of writing is a bit frustrating at times because his grammar is atrocious and hard to comprehend. Overall, it is a good book and was a real eye opner for me. I found Stolen Legacy to be an excellent reference for anyone seeking a different perspective of the past. However, as compelling as this book may be, I was skeptical. I did not believe everything it had to say just because it seemed plausible. This has lead me to extensive research. I would advise readers to do the same before drawing any conclusions. The world needs a change in its view of Ancient Africa's contribution. James has certainly provided us with a text for this purpose. In a way, this is his legacy to the descendants of the African continent.
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Summary: Amusing but please, a serious work??
Review: A work of unbelievable naivety, devoid of any credible academic standards. Derivative of a nineteenth century sub-culture based around mystical appropriations from masonic, Rosicrucianist and Theosophist sources, James has written a very bad book which has never been taken seriously by learned people.The errors in the book are just unbelievable. For instance, James claims (pp. 125-130) that Aristotle "stole" the great library of Alexandria. Hello! The library was founded *after* his death, as ANY first-year classicist knows. This is just but one example of a book filled with grave flaws and basic errors. I am surprised by the passion that it has evidently raised on these pages, as the book is looked upon as an amusing joke in academia - certainly nothing to get excited about and most definitely nothing to take seriously as a historical work!
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Summary: "KNOW THY SELF"
Review: This phrase, although attributed to Socrates, was found on many of the temples of learning throughout Egypt long before Socrates existed. This is a very important mantra for people of African descent.I personally was in a state of shame of being from African ancestry during the 70's as a young teenager. but upon spending 3 months in Africa at age 19, all that changed. Books such as this are critically important for US in order to debunk the distortions promulgated during this millennium against people of color, and in particular people of African descent. Regardless of what popular (white) culture's response is to this type of discovery, the important thing for US is to study for ourselves who we are and what we have contributed to the development of the human race. Who cares what THEY think!!!! WE should be well aware of the extent to which THEY will go to remain the superior force on this planet (slavery, world war, historical distortions, genocide, cultural genocide, economic sanctions, etc..). Books such as this and those written by Jochannen, Diop, Van Sertima, Bernal, Al-Mansour, and others, prompt US to re-evaluate everything WE were taught (programmed) to be true. The revelations exposed through the works of these writers, should be the foundation of learning for all of OUR subsequent generations. What I find to be most interesting is the fact that since the works here prompt so much debate, why is it that we do not see not only some of the debate itself, but also some of the factual discoveries borne by the works of these authors on channels such as TLC, A&E, or Discovery. Since WE now have OUR own voice in the national broadcasting world, I think BET should pursue this area further so that more of our younger generation can gain knowledge in these areas. Black History should not be limited to one month, and should not be limited to the civil rights era especially when it spans thousands of years. It is important that WE lift the veil of ignorance OURSELVES and really take a look at everything WE feel WE know to be true. One of my favorite misconceptions is that of certain aspects of the Bible. How many of you know that the 10 Commandments can be found within the 42 Negative Confessions of the Metu Neter, a holy book written long before Moses or the Bible. WHAT HAVE WE BEEN TAUGHT, AND WHY? Stolen Legacy is an excellent book to start questioning the current world order.
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Summary: This is a tremendous example of pseudo-scholarship
Review: I have read the book in question as well as all of the submitted reviews. I can tell you, with 100% honesty and conviction, that this book is nothing but meritless trash that has received some notice because it deals with a controversial issue. In my estimation, the motive for all scholarship should be to find, analyze, and discuss the truth of a particular subject. This book, on the other hand, appears to have been written solely in an attempt to raise the self-esteem of alienated blacks, and to launch a racially motivated smear campaign against the ancient Greeks. I can only speculate that anger and unfounded feelings of inadequacy culminated in the release of such a book. This book smacks of ideology, and it's arguments are not substantiated by anything that even remotely approximates fact or evidence of same. Due to the fact that the achievements of the Ancient Greeks cannot be refuted, a select group of black "intellectuals" have set out to steal them, and claim them as their own. We are living in a time in which racial tension and frustration are running high, and as a result of this fact, books such as the one in question have been allowed to go largely unopposed. The actual truth, however, is that this author is trying to rewrite historynot by substituting fact for fiction, but by substituing fiction for fact.
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Summary: Truth comes to light!
Review: Many will not accept what James has presented in his book. Even if one scoffs at the notion that Greek history (as we know it) was fabricated (or that much of it has been falsely attributed to them) since it was "stolen" from an already existing and thriving culture in Africa, simply look up the references that James provides. It was eye-opening to read about how the Greeks themselves praised the Africans!! As it was said in the movie, "A Few Good Men", if you want the truth, ask yourself, "Can I handle the truth?" This book goes a long way toward restoring the greatness of Africa that has been attacked for centuries. James shows Africa, and Egypt (Kemit) in particular, for what it really is: the home of a great, thriving civilization, and not simly the home to bush people, uncivilized savages, and slaves.
Rating:
Summary: worth thinking about
Review: this book has been cited as a prime example of afrocentric scholarship (a term with very different meanings for the two sharply divided sides in the culture wars). as such it is worth our reflection. what's at stake here is the source of our culture; "our" because what is traditionally called the western heritage, in science, art, philosophy, politics, etc., is now conquering the entire world peacefully and successfully. both sides of this debate over afrocentrism seem to think that this is a good thing, that, for instance, modern science is wonderful. but who can claim the credit for this culture that we have inherited? power is at stake here, for whoever can claim the origin of our culture on his or her side shall be empowered, or so many believe. The detailed arguments aside (for this is a case in which arguments, however extensive they may be, may only be convincing to those making them), two points are worth our consideration. first, there is a lack of critical reflection on our present cultue--are science and democracy accepted as faith, taken for granted? second, there is a lack of critical reflection on the self--how much of us is defined by our culture, and how much of that culture, in turn, is defined by its origin? what is the source of power? in order to give appropriate consideration to the arguments themselves, it is above all necessary to consider the nature of knowledge and of scientific inquiry, so that we can shift the debate away from narcissism and towards critical inquiry. as to the arguments at hand here, i would suggest a few practical points. for instance, the author of this book claims that aristotle "stole" his ideas from the thinkers of an older culture, namely the egyptians. so all this time the man who is, in dante's phrase, the master of those who know, is merely a dishonest student who concealed his debt to his teachers. now it is clear that these so-called teachers of aristotle did not leave their writings to us; thus our greek man is our only link to great "black" philosophy. it then follows that we should study aristotle with more eagerness. why afrocentrists do not advocate the study of the greek philosophers is a fact beyond my comprehension. in all cases, it is not necessary to prove them wrong, for history is often an impossible dispute; when the consequences of their arguments are pointed out, however, i am not sure that they would stick with their original contentions.
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Summary: The pivotal work uncovering the birth of civilization.
Review: Though I knew that virtually everything taught me in school while growing up was wrong, Stolen Legacy gave me a resource from which to find truth. When Mr. James demonstrated that it was impossible for one man, Socrates, to have written as many books as have been ascribed to him and that in order for a civilization to have time to dabble in philosophy it must have internal and external stability and peace, I knew that the legacy credited to the Greeks was in fact the legacy of the Black Woman and Man of the Nile. Even the Greeks themselves admit their knowledge came from the Blacks in Egypt. This is one of the most important books every published since Mr. Lincoln's military draft document that allowed the North to arm Black soldiers, namely the Emancipation Proclamation.
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Summary: Pure Garbage!
Review: If you are looking for a book that is a complete fairy tale and is NOT history, this is one of the best books on the market. In this book the author tries to prove that the entire civilization of ancient greece was really stolen from egypt by the greeks. He claims that egypt is the real birthplace of western civilization, and was falsely given to greece due to a worldwide conspiracy involving all of the world's historians and archeologists over the centuries. Throughout the book he makes comments that are simply out of this world without any facts to back up his statements. He makes such wild claims as to saying that philosophy is not even a greek word. I hate to break the bad news to the author but I am fluent in greek, and philosophy is most definitely a greek word! He even goes as far as saying that the entire greek language was stolen from egypt when in fact the two languages have absolutely nothing in common. Some of the wild claims concerning the greek temples such as the parthenon in athens and the oracle of delphi on being cheap egyptian copies leaves the reader wondering if the author is completely insane due to the fact that these type of monuments were never found in egypt. His statements concerning some greek literature achievements such as how could Aristotle have written over one thousand books, and really got them from Egypt after Alexander the Great's invasion, is really quite silly. First, it is well known that his books were written by his thousands of students that he taught over his entire teaching career. Second, no similar documents were ever found by archeologists in the egyptian hieroglyphic language. Third, the author failed to provide an explanation for the famous literary works such as those of the trojan war, which were written many centuries before the time period involved. If the author really believes that the greeks were so ignorant as portrayed in his book, I would like him to explain to me why the greeks did not get conquered by the persians who were the world superpower at that time that succeeded in conquering every other civilization including his super advanced egypt! I will not even go into details on the dozens of inconsistencies that can be found thoughout this book. What is really sad is the fact that this book can be somewhat convincing to anyone who knows little about ancient history and may consider it authentic. Anyone else who is well versed in the history of greece and egypt would agree with me that this book does not belong at the top a book shelf in a bookstore, but rather at the bottom of a trash can. If you think that my opinion is extremely biased because I am greek, I urge you to read it and see for yourself that as a history book this has to be one of the craziest books ever written!
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