American Biographical Institute: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
m →Awards and titles sold: New ref |
m →Awards and titles sold: New ref |
||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
* Gold Record of Achievement <ref> [http://www.statehouse.gm/cv/biography.html President of Gambia] </ref> |
* Gold Record of Achievement <ref> [http://www.statehouse.gm/cv/biography.html President of Gambia] </ref> |
||
* Genius Laureate of the United States <ref> [http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/news26_1/awards.htm Dubious Awards, Sashes and Stuff] </ref> |
* Genius Laureate of the United States <ref> [http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/news26_1/awards.htm Dubious Awards, Sashes and Stuff] </ref> |
||
* Great Minds of the 21st Century Award <ref> [http://web.mac.com/david.vernon/iWeb/The%20Canberra%20Journal/The%20Scribbles/53C521D3-72D2-4CB6-A20D-36BB0F2AEF9F.html ''David Vernon - Man of the Year!'']</ref> |
|||
* Great Minds of the 21st Century Award {{fact|date=January 2008}} |
|||
* Great Women of the 21st Century Award {{fact|date=January 2008}} |
* Great Women of the 21st Century Award {{fact|date=January 2008}} |
||
* International Cultural Diploma of Honor <ref name="SpencerListings"/><ref name="MeyerAwards">{{cite web |url= http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/practice/quotesDetail.cfm?coid=1442 |title= Paul J Meyer, Author and Founder |author= The Appreciative Inquiry Commons |quote= }}</ref> |
* International Cultural Diploma of Honor <ref name="SpencerListings"/><ref name="MeyerAwards">{{cite web |url= http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/practice/quotesDetail.cfm?coid=1442 |title= Paul J Meyer, Author and Founder |author= The Appreciative Inquiry Commons |quote= }}</ref> |
||
Revision as of 09:40, 14 January 2008
The American Biographical Institute (ABI) is a publisher based in the United States in Raleigh, North Carolina. Like the International Biographical Centre (IBC) in the UK, it operates on a vanity press business model and generates its revenue from sales of certificates and books.
The ABI writes to individuals who have been cited elsewhere and invites them to receive various honors,[1] such as "International Man of the Year," "Most Admired Man of the Decade" or "Outstanding Man of the 21st Century" (see list below), or to be included in ABI publications, such as 500 Leaders of Science[2] or The World Book of Knowledge,[3] in exchange for a "contribution fee."[4] Those who accept, who sometimes write their own biographies,[5] are offered books or certificates at prices as high as US $ 795.[3]
On its website,[6] the publisher describes itself as "one of the world’s leading biographical reference publishers and authorities on global contemporary achievement" and claims that "inclusion in an ABI reference title is based on personal achievement alone and is not available for purchase."
While it is apparent that some of the ABI honorees are legitimate practitioners in their fields,[7] the awards themselves have been denounced as scams by politicians,[8][9] journalists,[10][11] and others.[12][13][14]
Awards and titles sold
New awards are continually created and marketed. Most awards are available for between US $ 195 and US $ 495 depending on their level of prestige and the quality of the printing on the certificate. In 2005 the Institute awarded 200 "Man of the Year" awards at between US $ 195 and US $ 295 each.[15]
The awards and titles which are sold by the American Biographical Institute include:
- Ambassador of Grand Eminence [16]
- American Hall of Fame [17]
- American Medal of Honor [18]
- American Order of Excellence Medal [19]
- Commemorative Medal of Honor [7][19]
- Community Leader of America [7]
- Congressional Medal of Excellence [20]
- Contemporary Elite [21]
- Continental Governor for the United States of America [22]
- Deputy Governor of the American Biographical Institute Research Association [23]
- Distinguished Leadership Award [7]
- Distinguished Young Leadership Award [24]
- Einsteinian Chair of Science [25]
- Gold Record of Achievement [26]
- Genius Laureate of the United States [27]
- Great Minds of the 21st Century Award [28]
- Great Women of the 21st Century Award [citation needed]
- International Cultural Diploma of Honor [19][29]
- International Man of the Year [29]
- International Medal of Vision [citation needed]
- International Peace Prize [9][11][17]
- Key Award [citation needed]
- Legion of Honor [citation needed]
- Man of Achievement [citation needed]
- Man of science [citation needed]
- Man of the Year [1]
- Master Diploma with honors [17]
- Member of the World Institute of Achievement [citation needed]
- Most Admired Man of the Decade [7][29]
- One of the Genius Elite [citation needed]
- Order of International Ambassadors [citation needed]
- Outstanding Man of the Century [citation needed]
- Outstanding Man of the 20th Century [19]
- Outstanding Man of the 21st Century [19]
- Outstanding Professional Award [citation needed]
- Platinum Record for Exceptional Performance [citation needed]
- Presidential Seal of Honor [citation needed]
- Register of the World's Most Respected Experts [citation needed]
- The Statesman's Award [citation needed]
- Woman of Achievement [17]
- Woman of the Year [17]
- World Lifetime Achievement Award [citation needed]
- World Laureate of the American Biographical Institute [citation needed]
- World Laureate of Norway [19]
- World Laureate of the United States of America [citation needed]
- World Lifetime Achievement Award [29]
- World Medal of Freedom[30]
- 20th Century Achievement Award [citation needed]
- 25 Year Achievement Award [7]
- 500 Leaders of Science Award [citation needed]
- 500 Leaders of Influence Award [citation needed]
- 1000 World Leaders of World Influence Award [citation needed]
- 2000 Millennium Medal of Honor [citation needed]
- 2000 Universal Award for Accomplishment [citation needed]
- 5000 Personalities of the World Award [citation needed]
World leaders with ABI awards
- President of Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, Official CV showing awards.
- Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, Biography showing award.
References
The ABI does not provide a consolidated list of all the awards, medals, diplomas and certificates it issues,[1] but the titles of the "honors" may be identified through the recipients' use of them in their résumés. An internet search on any of the "honors" above will locate many recipients.[31]
- ^ a b c David Vernon (July 2007). "David Vernon — Man of the Year!". Appeared as "The Price of Fame" in The Skeptic vol 27, No 2.
Interestingly, neither ABI nor IBC lists their entire menu of awards on their websites — perhaps they think that to do so might make even the most gullible person a little suspicious… Western Australian Senator Ross Lightfoot, in his 1997 entry in Who's Who in Australia p970, and on his Parliamentary website states that he is a Life Fellow of the International Biographical Centre. Such Fellowships can be had for a one-off payment of £795.
{{cite news}}: External link in|work= - ^ Seema Banerjee (17 July 2002). "Post: Commemorative Edition of "500 Leaders of Science"". Teachers.Net.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Hannes Gassert (12 September 2004). "Me in "The World Book of Knowledge" (?)".
Alright, I'm rather credulous by nature, but heck, who would want the biography of a random 22-year old in an encyclopedia at the cost of $795 USD? This does indeed very much look like the scheme of the publishing house Belbo, Casaubon and Diotallevi, the heroes in Eco's Foucault's Pendulum, work for, publishing esoteric books at their authors' own expense.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Columnist Mike Awoyinfa (1 April 2006). "Should I accept this American award?". The Sun (Lagos).
I have just received this letter … telling me that I don't know who I am and that I "should be proud" of my accomplishments … For the MAN OF THE YEAR Decree (unlaminated) the price is US $ 195.00. For the Decree Custom Laminated onto Finland Birch Wood, the price is US $ 295.00… They are asking me to send the money by cheque or money order or wire transfer. They are asking for my credit card number…
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Stover E. Harger III (14 February 2007). "Paying for prestige: the cost of recognition". Daily Vanguard.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ American Biographical Institute website.
- ^ a b c d e f Ohio State University College of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience. "Hojjat Adeli, Ph.D." Faculty CV.
- ^ Richard Baker (27 August 2004). "Scam of the year a snip at $195". The Age.
Consumer Affairs Minister John Lenders has been asked to investigate a scam being run by a group called the American Biographical Institute after it told a Labor MP he would get a decree confirming his nomination as 2004 "man of the year" if he paid $ US 195 ($ A 276) … [Member for Mitcham] Mr Robinson said it was important the people behind the scam be stopped from requesting Australians to send money for a meaningless award… "It is very difficult to retrieve money from scams like this that are run overseas," [Mr. Lenders] said. "This is a scam that is well known to Consumer Affairs Victoria.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Parliament of New South Wales (1 March 2005, 6 April 2005). "Peace Prize Scam".
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Rajesh Kochhar (16 January 1999). "The Sucker of the Year Award". The Tribune.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Tim Heald (February 2005). "I have been nominated for an International Peace Prize!". The Heald Report.
- ^ Bhavin Jankharia (10 August 1999). "The Awards Scam".
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Don Burleson (8 October 2006). "Are you a "Man of the Year"?".
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Dubious awards: Sashes and such". Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods) Volume 26 No. 1, Spring 2007.
- ^ "Excerpt of a letter from ABI (September 9, 2005)".
- ^ Nick Pahys, Jr. "Awards". (of 28 awards listed, 12 are from IBC, 6 from ABI, some jointly from both).
Ambassador of Grand Eminence.
- ^ a b c d e "High Awards & Recognitions". (Copies of letters received by "World Renowned Clairvoyant Psychic Medium Rose Schwab" from the American Biographical Institute and the International Biographical Centre).
- ^ [http://www.wvc.edu/events/releases.asp?relID=361 Biography of Celia Hall-Thur, Wenatchee Valley College
- ^ a b c d e f David A. Spencer. "Biographical Listings: Awards, Certificates".
- ^ Obituary for Pruella Cromartie Niver Canham
- ^ [http://www.cooltoad.com/sites/deepaknandedkar/awards_honors.htm The awards and honours of Dr. Deepak P. Nandedkar
- ^ Neil Jan Gale. "Biography of Neil Jan Gale".
Continental Governor for the United States of America.
- ^ Dr David Spencer's list of qualifications
- ^ Biography of Murray McGibbon
- ^ Biography of Dana Barry
- ^ President of Gambia
- ^ Dubious Awards, Sashes and Stuff
- ^ David Vernon - Man of the Year!
- ^ a b c d The Appreciative Inquiry Commons. "Paul J Meyer, Author and Founder".
- ^ Department of Consumer and Employment Protection, Western Australia. "World Medal of Freedom".
It costs hundreds of dollars to receive your commemorative medal, certificate or book. But unlike the Nobel Prize, you wont find a list of winners, nominees or even the judging criteria on ABI's website… Don't be a "Fool of the Year" by falling for this nonsense.
- ^ A typical multiple-award-listing CV (in this case, 40 from IBC, more than 20 from ABI.)