The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists

Amazon.com

Are you just another AFC ("average frustrated chump") trying to meet an HB ("hot babe")? How would you like to "full-close" with a Penthouse Pet of the Year? The answers, my friend, are in Neil Strauss's entertaining book The Game. Strauss was a self-described chick repellant--complete with large, bumpy nose, small, beady eyes, glasses, balding head, and, worst of all, painful shyness around women. He felt like "half a man." That is, until a book editor asked him to investigate the community of pickup artists. Strauss's life was transformed. He spent two years bedding some fine chiquitas and studying with some of the North America's most suave gents--including the best of them all, the God of the pickup "community," a man named Mystery.

Mystery is an aspiring Toronto magician who charges $2,250 for a weekend pickup workshop. He is not much to look at: a cross between a vampire and a computer geek. But by using high-powered marketing techniques he's turned seduction into an effortless craft--even inventing his own vocabulary. His technique sounds like a car salesman's tip sheet: his main rule is FMAC--find, meet, attract, close. He employs the "three-second rule"--always approach a woman within three seconds of first seeing her in order to avoid getting shy. Other tricks: Intrigue a beautiful woman by pretending to be unaffected by her charm; also, never hit on a woman right away. Start with a disarming, innocent remark, like "Do you think magic spells work?" or "Oh my god, did you see those two girls fighting outside?" And finally, the most important characteristic of the pickup artist--smile.

After two years, Strauss ends up becoming almost as successful as Mystery, but he comes to an important realization. His techniques were actually off-putting to the woman he ended up falling in love with. And they never prepared him for actually having a relationship. After a while, he ran out of one-liners and had to have a real conversation. Still, The Game is a great read that may help some AFCs come out of their shells. --Alex Roslin

Book Description

Hidden somewhere, in nearly every major city in the world, is an underground seduction lair. And in these lairs, men trade the most devastatingly effective techniques ever invented to charm women. This is not fiction. These men really exist. They live together in houses known as Projects. And Neil Strauss, the bestselling author, spent two years living among them, using the pseudonym Style to protect his real-life identity. The result is one of the most explosive and controversial books of the year -- guaranteed to change the lives of men and transform the way women understand the opposite sex forever.

On his journey from AFC (average frustrated chump) to PUA (pick-up artist) to PUG (pick-up guru), Strauss not only shares scores of original seduction techniques but also has unforgettable encounters with the likes of Tom Cruise, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Heidi Fleiss, and Courtney Love. And then things really start to get strange -- and passions lead to betrayals lead to violence. The Game is the story of one man's transformation from frog to prince -- to prisoner in the most unforgettable book of the year.

Customer Reviews:

This book aint no blueprint for success. I wish it were.......2007-10-11

I tried some of the suggested methods in the book. They didn't work, at least not exactly. I did get a few positive responses. Well, let me put it this way: "The sex you want, you aren't getting, and the sex you're getting , you don't want..."

Got so much more out of it than I could ever have imagined!.......2007-10-10

I was a depressed wreck before reading your book. Now I am a dating success. Another bestseller that I highly recommend- The Exclusive Layguide: When Dating and Having Sex with Incredibly Hot Women is No Longer Mirage Even If You Don't Look Like a Model or Don't Make a Fortune Both books are well worth the money!

Amazing Book!.......2007-10-10

It's 1:15 AM and I just finished this book. And I LOVED every page of it. I rarely read books if ever, but I read this one in two days.

A Fantastic Entertaining read!.......2007-10-08

This was one of the most fascinating and entertaining books I've ever read. Besides getting an inside look at the society of pick-up artists, I gained some interesting insight into human psychology. It's written in a wonderful narrative, story style which made it hard to put down.

It is a must read, whether you're interested in learning about how to pick up women or you're just wanting to read a great true story.

I highly recommend it!

Not a pickup guide - but worth the read.......2007-10-06

I recently purchased this book after reading the many favorable reviews on Amazon.com.

First off, this isn't a "how to pick up girls" book, though the process is covered in some depth. Instead, it is a story of a man's search for himself and purpose in life by learning the techniques of the master pickup artists. Sound shallow? I thought so too until I began to read some more.

What starts as an innocent enough goal (to be more successful with women) ends up becoming an obsession for the author, who is short, balding, and not generally considered to be attractive. Neil Strauss (who goes by the name "Style") makes the slow but steady transition from AFC (average, frustrated chump) to mPUA (master pickup artist).

As a single man in his late 20's, I can easily identify with the author's initial challenges. Approaching a beautiful woman is an intimidating prospect, especially for men with low self-esteem - nevermind that they have no idea what to say. However, under the wings of the mPUA Mystery, Style comes into his own and seems to have no problem picking up any woman he sets his eyes on.

Along his journey, the reader is introduced to a variety of strange characters, from pickup wannabees to psychotic women.

The book is great for anyone - men or women, who would like a glimpse of the pickup community.

Average customer rating:

Disappointing Ending
Con artists, assassins, rare book collectors, and the Camel Club
Kept my Interest
What's With the Cartoon Characters??
"Right now seemed a good time to end her collection of lost chances" (2.5 stars)

The Collectors
David Baldacci
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Book Description

People are dropping dead in Washington, D.C. First the Speakerof the House falls victim to a hitman in a carefully orchestrated murder infront of dozens of the city's power elite. Next, the director of theLibrary of Congress's Rare Books Room dies in a book vault, but no oneknows how. Caleb Shaw, Camel Club member, nearly falls victim, too. Acrossthe country, a gifted con woman assembles an A-list team to pull off one ofthe most audacious scams ever, against one of the most dangerous men in theworld. When the worlds of Washington and the elite con collide head-on, theCamel Club finds itself teamed with a person they don't really trust butwhose skill helps them unravel a secret that threatens to bring America toits knees.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing Ending.......2007-10-08

I enjoyed THE COLLECTORS and didn't want it to end. But then, it didn't....really. Tsk tsk to Baldacci on the cliffhanger. That last line was a resounding thud. But, I'll buy the next book in the series and probably enjoy it just as much. The Camel Club characters' complementary talents are interesting, with a little bit of comic relief amid the rapacious killing. In addition to the disappointing ending, I found it pretty weak to have the conservator/bookstore guy sort of spill his guts for several pages, in such a nice, friendly way.

Con artists, assassins, rare book collectors, and the Camel Club.......2007-10-06

This is not the best novel on the market, but it was entertaining and held my interest. It is really two plots which come together through one of the main characters. Annabelle Conroy is a con artist out to make a big score by conning an evil man from her past (this is somewhat like "The Sting," but not quite as good). You do learn a lot about con games, from Three Card Monte to counterfeit ATM cards, to stolen and altered checks, to pulling chips at casinos, to Internet wire fraud. It can make a person cautious, and explain why casinos have high levels of security. Just don't try this on someone like Jerry Bagger - he may break your kneecaps if he doesn't kill you.

The second plot links Annabelle to the Camel Club as they become involved in espionage - people are selling intelligence secrets to bad guys in other countries. I thought this plot was a little off the wall at times, but who knows - sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. You will learn a lot about rare books and the obsessions of some collectors. The story does have a lot of action and violence, including some torture.

The novel does not come to a complete end as an evil person is still trying to track down Annabelle.

Kept my Interest.......2007-10-02

A collector of lost chances; a collector of a personal item from each of his murder victims. The Speaker of the House is murdered; the Director of the Library of Congress Rare Books dies suddenly; his neighbor is shot dead; a skilled con artist pulls off a big-time con on an Atlantic City casino owner. The Camel Club guys (yes, this is a sequel of sorts) and others get into big trouble. This skillfully told story comes together neatly and leaves the door wide open for the continuing saga. There's plenty of action, and it's well-written. My review cannot do it justice...buy the book.

What's With the Cartoon Characters??.......2007-10-02

I've read every book Baldacci has published (well, at least the ones that have made it to paperback) and loved them all up until The Camel Club. It struck me while reading The Collectors this past week that the characters in this book are about as well developed as cartoon characters. Too many unbelievable people doing unbelievably stupid things to be taken seriously. Bagger is the worst of these, but all of the characters are extremely flawed. This goes to a large extent for The Camel Club book also, although it is not quite as egregious there. The whole setup of the four main characters strains any semblance of believability.

This has not been the case with the previous books I've read of his, and is very much a disappointment. I understand that fiction is by its very nature not true, but I prefer fiction that has the depth that allows me to believe it could be true. The Camel Club series fails this test miserably.

Hopefully this is not a turn of events that infects his other non-Camel Club output. While I will continue to buy his books in the future, The Camel Club series is off my list.

"Right now seemed a good time to end her collection of lost chances" (2.5 stars).......2007-09-29

I had a great time reading "The Camel Club" and I was looking forward to this new book featuring four unusual but engaging characters. Sadly, this novel's quality does not even come close to most of Baldacci's other efforts. There are two main plots that come together midway through the book, and while one of these is enthralling and fast-paced, the other one bores us to death.

Annabelle is a witty and seasoned con artist, and she is putting together a team to try to pull-off a series of cons that would make them millionaires, and at the same time provide her with a long-expected revenge. This story is fun and engaging, with well-crafted and clever cons that lead us to read non-stop and leave us wanting to know what will come next. Meanwhile, the Camel Club gets involved in a situation consisting of the murder of the Speaker of the House and the head of the rare books division at the Library of Congress. This is where Baldacci goes awry, with a story that drags its feet and characters that do not come even close to being as interesting as they were when we first met them. Sadly, when the two story lines connect, the quality remains at the level of the Camel Club portion of the plot.

A contrived ploy, with spies and complex motives for murder do not salvage this novel. The only reason why it gets 2.5-stars is because of the parts having to do with Annabelle and her team, since the story there is really outstanding. There is one other thing that bothered me. One of the main uncertainties from the story was left unresolved, and the book ended in something resembling a cliff-hanger. Usually, when I read a novel I expect to have the main plot lines come to some sort of conclusion, and Baldacci, in an effort to sell his next book, pulls a trick on us. I would not recommend this book unless you have already read "The Camel Club" and want to know what happened to the characters. But even if you fall into this category, beware: you are not going to find exactly what you seek.

The Camel Club

Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry

Average customer rating:

Following a trail
GREAT
A Fascinating Read, But.....
A most plausible view of history
Born in Blood by John Robinson

Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry
John J. Robinson
Manufacturer: M. Evans and Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Cults & Demonism | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Freemasonry | Other Practices | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0871316021

Book Description

Lively...illuminating. A refreshing example of scholarly detective work.--Kirkus Reviews

Customer Reviews:

Following a trail.......2007-06-27

Scholars doing research on a subject often uncover information the leads to a different path. Most scholars will ignore that information to finish the work they started, but other scholars follow that path to see where it leads. Thus it was for John Robinson, the author of "Born In Blood".
Mr. Robinson doing research about the Peasants' Revolt in England in 1381 uncovered information about the Knights Templar and subsequently their connection with the Freemasons.
Mr. Robinson, who is not a Freemason, took the information he gathered and presented it in a well written book. The facts uncovered and the conclusions reached will get both Masons and non-masons to look at the world's oldest and largest fraternity in a new, more positive, light.

GREAT.......2007-04-10

I am pleased to read another book that is not set to trash history makers but instead to make some sense out of the ignorance of many for the benefit of a true free society.

A Fascinating Read, But............2007-03-18

I have read and re-read this work a couple of times. Robinson writes a fascinating account of the Knights Templar and what may have happened to them after the Order was suppressed. As has been noted in most of the previous reviews, the author writes a good story. My gripe with it, and I say this both as a Master Mason and also as one who majored in History and minored in Bio Sciences in college, where are the footnotes? The references, the research notes to back up his statements? Without this supporting evidence that can be checked by other researchers, the work borders on being largely just speculation. I realize that much of the history of Freemasonry was never written down, and thus opens it up to a lot of speculation about its possible origins. A more recent work, The Secret History of Freemasonry, may actually be closer to the truth of the matter in that the Templars were patrons and financial backers of much of the great cathedrals and fortifications built during the two hundred years of their existence. And thus they would have had extensive connections to the operative masons who built these structures, and some of the refugee knights might have sought refuge within the stone mason guilds. Paul Naudon, the author of this work, backs up his work with numerous references -- something that unfortunately Robinson, now deceased, failed to do. So enjoy Born in Blood, but take it with a grain of salt.

A most plausible view of history.......2007-02-11

Maosn's, of which I am one, have an enigmatic past. In 1717 the United Grand Lodges of England (UGLE) suddenly appeared. Yet Masonic Lodges had existed for a long time. Why go so public that year?

John Robbinson set out to answer a simple question. How could the English Peasant's Revolt of 1318 been so well coordinated and executed in an era parish laws, illiteracy, and servitude? It took him, quite by chance from that revolt to Freemasonry. This book is well researched and well thought out. What he does, and what I find most fascinating, is to use the language of the Knights Templar- French, to support his thesis. Certain words recording in the reports of the uprising are generally ignored because when thought of as English, had no meaning.

His conclusion is fascinating and in a much better class historical writing than Holy Blood Holy Grail. A good read. It could serve as outline for a great epic movie.

While I do not subsribe to the Templar - Masonic School of origins, I do believe that he is correct on the Templar-Peasant Revolt connection.
(I prefer the enlightment - civil society school of thought: see books by Margaret Jacobs Ph.D) .

Born in Blood by John Robinson.......2007-01-03

Well written history and content of Free Masonry. Some of it is speculatve because the world simply doesn't know the early history of the Masons.

Blood on the Altar: The Secret History of the World's Most Dangerous Secret Society

Average customer rating:

Get the facts
If only
yes, Virginia, there is an OTO
A must read for the informed.
An underground classic destined to live on

Blood on the Altar: The Secret History of the World's Most Dangerous Secret Society
Craig Heimbichner
Manufacturer: Independent History and Research
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0970378432
Release Date: 2005-01-03

Book Description

What's beyond Freemasonry? That's the question investigators have pondered for decades and Craig Heimbichner furnishes fascinating answers as he probes deeply into the sooty arcana of the Ordo Templi Orientis --or "OTO" -- the higher secret society to which elite Freemasons emigrate as part of a process of occult succession.

"Blood on the Altar" pursues the shape-shifting trail of this successor group, on the Left as the pillar of a libertarian ethos, avant-garde drug culture and radical hedonism; on the Right, as the pillar of aristocratic preference for authoritarian rule and classical culture.

Heimbichner has deconstructed not just a Janus-faced secret society but a method of operation so deceptive, the reader can hardly believe that such audacious and far-flung duplicity and misdirection could possibly succeed for so long without exposure. But succeed it has, until now.

The head-spinning trail of the OTO leads from the US government to the NASA rocket program, from the Hollywood film industry to Right-wing "patriot" groups, from the New Age craze for the Kabbalah, to an attempt to control the conservative enthusiasm for traditional liturgy.

The OTO has marched from triumph after triumph, as the spectre of its "Great Beast", British Intelligence officer Aleister Crowley, cast its Thelemic spell over a double-minded populace alternately seeking freedom-and-contraint, sex-and-repression, magick-and-Christendom, science-and-superstition. "Blood on the Altar" shows the OTO to be the signature secret society behind the most dazzling--and puzzling-- charades of the modern Cryptocracy.

Customer Reviews:

Get the facts.......2007-09-08

I was a member of the OTO for a number of years and even was the head of an Oasis. This fellow hasn't got a clue about the subject which he claims to be an expert on. I have gotten others ro read this book with a great enjoyment of the humor (unintentional). There may be a secret society running the world but this fellow has it all wrong. Anyone who knows the subject will find humor anyone looking for knowledge will only find confusion.

If only.......2007-07-24

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

I've been a member of the OTO for nearly 15 years, so it may suprise many readers of this review that I would give 4 stars to an expose of my dastardly doings. Boy, don't I wish. When I finished the book, I went waving it at my girlfriend, saying, "Where is THIS organization? I want to join THIS OTO!" Sadly, despite Mr. Heimbichner's efforts to assist our recruiting drive, the reality on the ground and the glamorous mystique he weaves around the Order are often very different things. Grant's Typhonian OTO, Bertiaux's OTOA, Motta's SOTO, McMurtry's
"Caliphate" OTO (to which I proudly belong), the "Swiss" OTO, et al, are mostly working with entirely different objectives. We are, unfortunately, too busy squabbling amongst ourselves to mount any sort of organized offensive on the status quo. This is not, as Heimbichner suggests, because the higher ups of the Order have nefariously sought to present the illusion of confusion. I can assure you that the confusion is quite real.

Nonetheless, I think that Heimbichner would be suprised at the number of places where he and I agree. While I repudiate his racist blood-libel bit, (or, rather, not being Christian, I don't care who's fault it is that his imaginary friend, Jesus, was crucified), I share his criticism of Zionism and the excesses of the State of Israel. I also agree that the Thelemic teachings are rather edgier than perhaps most self-identifying Thelemites are willing to admit to themselves. I also agree that Vatican II was tragic in many ways for Catholicism.

Further, while I can't speak for other Thelemites, I'm willing to acknowldge that Heimbichner was correct that I have a love/hate relationship with the Catholic Church. Protestanism is not very impressive. The mushrooming of suburban shopping mall style mega-churches, where a consumer culture passively consumes the yammering of ill-qualified preachers responsible only to themselves, is the logical outcome of the protestant ethic. At least the Catholic Church is a worthy opponent. I love the tradition, the art, the architecture, the mystery of the Catholic Church. At the same time, I find the ideas of original sin and vicarious atonement repugnant. The Church's clinging to Biblical questionable doctrines forbidding birth control at a time when over-population threatens our planet is irresponsible, to say the least. In fact, the Church's mania to control the sexuality of it's adherents is perhaps its most objectionable characteristic.

The problem, really, with this book is that Heimbichner's One United Conspiracy theory makes him fail to appreciate what, to me, should particularly be noted; which is this -- that, despite competing value systems, often, similar goals make for strange bedfellows. He misses a great deal of nuance and complexity that would have made this book a serious historical inquiry. While Heimbichner laments our media manipulated society, he fails to note that Aleister Crowley, whom he blames for this state of affairs, was complaining about "The Black Lodge" trying to "stop people from thinking" as far back as the 1940's (see Crowley's Magick without Tears for more on this issue.) The real menace today is the military-industrial complex. This is true whether you are a "right wing nut" or a "left wing nut," an occultist or a Catholic. In our own ways, esotericists and students of conspiracy like Heimbichner, although he doesn't realize it, are actually after the same enemy. Talk about strange bedfellows.

I could go on in this vein, but to return to the original question, why would I give this book 4 stars? The answer is that, frankly, Heimbichner traces alot of connections that are helpful to members of the OTO. His comments on the Palladium are particularly interesting. He highlights other connections that, although they are hiding in plain site, are hiding nonetheless. Alot of this same interrelationship is traced, less prejucially, in Joscelyn Godwin's "The Theosophical Enlightenment," and should be studied there. Author and occultist, Allen Greenfield, recently recounted on a podcast interview a comment made to him by one of the great modern adepts, Martin P. Starr. The comment was (and I paraphrase, here) that more important than following the papertrail of occult orders, is to follow the transmission of ideas. Heimbichner seems to believe that he is tracing a "papertrail" from one organization to another, but what he actually traces is the transmission of ideas from generation to generation of seekers after the Light.

Perhaps the the Light of Initiation is a "darkness visible" to those beyond its pale. Even those of us who have set out in search of that light often only catch a few glimpses of it. While the Bible cautions that Satan may disguise himself as an angel of light, it is, perhaps, also true that the angel of God may clothe himself in darkness. Perhaps it is this darkness that the cowan experiences when he confronts the adept. Men like Heimbichner will never see the light within. They are stopped by the terrible form of the Dweller of the Threshold, repulsed by the darkness visible, when the light invisible dwells just beyond its terrifying shroud.

I should probably end with the disclaimer that, while I have spoken of my own affiliation with the OTO, I am in no way deputed to speak on its behalf, and these opinions are my own.

Love is the law, love under will.

yes, Virginia, there is an OTO.......2007-07-04

One of the lynchpins of Graham Lincoln's dismissive review is the supposed authority of The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements. I guess it's fine from an Anglophilic point of view, but most serious scholars turn to the work of J. Gordon Melton. Sure, even Melton agrees that there are (at least) four competing OTO's, but would one argue that there isn't some agreed.upon vision that identifies each as "OTO"? Do the many dominations of Christianity not agree upon certain basic principles? And given the involvement of L. Ron Hubbard in the Pasadena chapter of the OTO (pre.Scientology), how can the organization not be considered significant in any comprehensive study of ... post.ancient religion? Lincoln, whether he intends it or not, takes an unseemly puritanical approach to Heimbichner's book. For Lincoln, the Masonic Order - unlike practically everything else in American society - is above criticism.

A must read for the informed........2007-05-08

Very informative regarding the Masons and their aims for the new world order. Their power and influence in history and today, is indeed scary.

An underground classic destined to live on.......2007-02-20

This book is jam-packed with information and gores just about everyone's sacred cow with wit and insight as it shines a spotlight on the vermin-infested corner of occult Masonry. The campaign to slander this book on Amazon run by Masons and Thelemites (members of the OTO, subject of this book) is proof that the author struck the proper nerve. The lies posted below would be amusing if they weren't the (illiterate) product of such a campaign. For example, one recent reviewer mocks the author's statement that vampirism belongs to the upper levels of the OTO, but surely knows that the "Mass of the Phoenix" of the OTO is also known to initiates as the "Mass of the Vampire," and for good reason. Kenneth Grant not a member of the OTO run by Bill Breeze, which is "legally recognized?" What a joke. Take a trip to Peter Koenig's OTO website in Switzerland and you will find a document from Aleister Crowley authorizing Grant to run the whole bloody organization. That Breeze "won" something in the U.S. court system is another joke; in fact, followers of Marcelos Motta in the Society of the OTO claim the whole operation was run by the CIA through the courts. And the author never, ever claims that all of these individuals are members of the "same" OTO, but highlights the different and various individuals and branches of the OTO phenomenon.

These OTO reviewers are so full of contradictions that they praise the glossary and the research while saying it is "ridiculous." Really? They also pull out accusations and "tags" which are inaccurate, such as "racial bias" or mentions of UFOs (utterly absent from the book) in an attempt to attack the author or the book itself. As for the mention of infiltration by the OTO, the author never states how vast it is, but instead actually documents from OTO internal "libri" their own intentions to do so. This is never discussed in these reviews--for obvious reasons.

Buy the book and hang on to it. It will be worth serious money in a few years.

Average customer rating:

not accurate
not always the case
Boring and choppy
A bit biased
Unaccurate account of Sorority life

Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities
Alexandra Robbins
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0786888598

Book Description

Now in paperback, the New York Times bestseller-with over 91,000 copies in print-that takes you behind closed doors to see what really goes on in America's sororities ver wonder what sorority life is really like? In Pledged, bestselling author Alexandra Robbins goes undercover to expose the dark side of collegiate sisterhood-the psychological abuse, hazing rituals, and widespread body image disorders-while at the same time introducing us to many of the intelligent, successful women within its ranks. The result is a compelling sociological exploration of the powerful influence that these organizations wield over young women today. With its fly-on-the-wall voyeurism and remarkable insight, Pledged paints a sharp-eyed portrait of the intriguing and paradoxical world of modern-day sororities.

Customer Reviews:

not accurate.......2007-10-02

While an interesting read, I did not feel that this book was an accurate portrayal of sorority life. Yes, I am sure that there are some sororities like those in the book (obviously, or it would not have been written) but there are many more with so much to offer. I am a member of a sorority at a public university, and I have never experienced any sort of hazing. (After rush the executive board actually told us that an active member was not even allowed to ask us to pick up a dropped pencil!) I am also a Christian, and not once have I been pressured to go against my beliefs (getting drunk, dressing provocativly, etc).

Please do not base your opinion of sororities on this book!! Do some research and most importantly, find sorority members at the school you are interested in and ask them questions! Do not base your opinion of a sorority as a whole on one person and remember that we are human just like everyone else!

not always the case.......2007-09-25

i have read this and to tell you the truth not all sororities are like that and i would know I am a current sorority member and have been a me,ber of this sorority on 2 seperate campuses in two different areas of the country , one in Kentucky and currently i am at Iowa State. I have NEVER expirienced any form of hazing or have been pushed into dieting drinking excetera. i think that it is sad that sororities are given such a bad rap because from all the girls i know and the colleges i have been to it is so much a wonderful expirience of service and sisterhood. So dont take this book as the complete truth because there are us good sororities out there.

Boring and choppy.......2007-09-16

Nothing interesting happens in this book. NOTHING! I was hoping for some jaw dropping insight. Instead, the stories are mundane and trite. For example, in one sorority, the girls pressure another girl into breaking up with her boyfriend... that way they can all hang out more and she'll want to go out with them and flirt with boys. Oh that's crazy!!!11

A bit biased.......2007-09-07

I was hoping to read a fair and biased report on the activities of sororities, but was disappointed to find that the author was very biased in her opinions and didn't really show the opposite (not quite so dark) side of sororities. Also, the reading was a bit choppy due to the fact that the girls' stories were than "analyzed" by the author with information about similar events, facts, etc.

Unaccurate account of Sorority life.......2007-08-27

For those of you who think this tells the accurate portrayal of sorority life, Don't waste your time. To me this book was written by a cynical person who didn't fit in in college.
My sorority was not at all like the ones in this book and it is terrible that people now think that ALL sororities are like the ones in her book. She over exaggerates and gives false information. The sorority I am still apart of does not degrade any of it's members and hazing doesn't happen at all. I'm outraged at this book because non-greeks think they actually know what goes on...They have no idea.

Shame on her for lying...Shame on her for giving away secrets that have been passed down for 100's of years.
FOR PARENTS:
For those moms out there who are going to read this book to see if they should let their daughter join a sorority don't base it on this, because this information is embellished. The best thing to do is have your daughter go to different houses her fall semester and then in the Spring pledge, by then she will know what the sisters are like.

I'm so offended as a REAL sorority member that she generalized that all sorority members have eating disorders and do drugs and overweight people aren't allowed to join...My sorority did not base membership on looks or race. We had women from all over the world and of all shapes and sizes.

Please do not base your view of Greek life on this book.

Average customer rating:

This book is terribly written.
I liked it!
Full of Adventure
Not Believable, doesen't get any better with time.
Better than the DaVinci Code

Map of Bones
James Rollins
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060763876
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Book Description

The bestselling master of astonishing adventure James Rollins delivers his most relentlessly exciting page-turner to date—a gripping and explosive novel of an ancient conspiracy to create a terrifying new world order out of the ashes of modern civilization.

The crime is inhumanly cruel with horrific consequences both unthinkable and inevitable. During a service at a cathedral in Cologne, Germany, a band of armed intruders dressed in monks' robes unleash a nightmare of blood and terror, ruthlessly gunning down worshippers and clergy alike. The killers haven't come for the church's gold and valuable artwork, but for a priceless treasure secreted within: the preserved bones of the Three Magi who once came to pay homage to a newborn savior. As they flee the carnage they have wrought, they carry a prize that could reshape the world.

The Vatican is in turmoil, and Lieutenant Rachel Verona of Rome's carabinieri is assigned to lead the investigation. But no ordinary police organization alone can deal with the bizarre theft and massacre, and SIGMA Force—an elite covert arm of the U.S. Defense Department—is called in under the command of Grayson Pierce. New to SIGMA, Pierce assembles a crack team of scientific and Special Forces operatives to unravel the mystery of the stolen bones, and together they set out on a twisting trail through a labyrinth of clues and dark revelations that carry them to the sites of the Seven Wonders of the World—and to the doorstep of the mystical and terrifying Dragon Court.

An ancient, secret fraternity of alchemists and assassins, the master-adepts of the Dragon Court have plans for the sacred remains that will alter the future of humankind in devastating ways that only the maddest of zealots could desire—and they will let nothing and no one stand in their way. Suddenly Pierce, Verona, and the SIGMA team are the hunted as well as the hunters, forced to use every skill they possess to survive as they follow the bones to the ultimate confrontation between darkness and light—in a lost place of history where science and religion will unite to unleash a horror not seen since the beginning of time.

A masterful novel that combines the exhilarating mysticism of The Da Vinci Code with the pulse-pounding action of a Tom Clancy thriller, James Rollins's Map of Bones is destined to be a modern classic that will stand among the very best adventure tales ever written.

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The bestselling master of astonishing adventure James Rollins delivers his most relentlessly exciting page-turner to date -- a gripping and explosive novel of an ancient conspiracy to create a terrifying new world order out of the ashes of modern civilization.

The Vatican is in turmoil, and Lieutenant Rachel Verona of Rome's carabinieri is assigned to lead the investigation. But no ordinary police organization alone can deal with the bizarre theft and massacre, and SIGMA Force -- an elite covert arm of the U.S. Defense Department -- is called in under the command of Grayson Pierce. New to SIGMA, Pierce assembles a crack team of scientific and Special Forces operatives to unravel the mystery of the stolen bones, and together they set out on a twisting trail through a labyrinth of clues and dark revelations that carry them to the sites of the Seven Wonders of the World -- and to the doorstep of the mystical and terrifying Dragon Court.

An ancient, secret fraternity of alchemists and assassins, the master-adepts of the Dragon Court have plans for the sacred remains that will alter the future of humankind in devastating ways that only the maddest of zealots could desire -- and they will let nothing and no one stand in their way. Suddenly Pierce, Verona, and the SIGMA team are the hunted as well as the hunters, forced to use every skill they possess to survive as they follow the bones to the ultimate confrontation between darkness and light -- in a lost place of history where science and religion will unite to unleash a horror not seen since the beginning of time.

A masterful novel that combines the exhilarating mysticism of The Da Vinci Code with the pulse-pounding action of a Tom Clancy thriller, James Rollins's Map of Bones is destined to be a modern classic that will stand among the very best adventure tales ever written.

Customer Reviews:

This book is terribly written........2007-10-05

I am usually a sucker for these thrillers, but this was terrible. It was poorly written and had very bad dialogue. I couldn't even finish it despite the fact that the setting was in Europe and had a good premise. I don't understand why people liked this book.

I liked it!.......2007-10-03

I thought this was an ejoyable thriller. I am tired of people who all have the same "It's so unrealistic" line. Guess what? There are alot of unrealistic books out there that are still entertaining and well-done. This is an action packed thriller that will keep you turning pages and entertained.

Full of Adventure.......2007-09-11

My husband and I read this book at the same time, and we both loved it. It's so interesting to travel around Europe with the characters and get a little history with the adventure. It reminded us a lot of DeVinci Code. The book had a nice, swift pace and a lot of action. My husband felt that they got a little corny with the "emotions" between the man and woman, but they didn't focus on it too much. The main focus was definitely on the action, with just a few corny love moments. We both liked this book a lot and would recommend it. Everyone I've spoken to that read it enjoyed it as well.

Not Believable, doesen't get any better with time........2007-09-07

This book, as all other Rollins' books, suffer/s from the same error in story telling. Very simply, they are not believable. These so called professional characters and agencies are at best amateurish and at worst, totally incompetent. Even a good Sci Fi book must be believable or plausible. Rollins fails terribly on this believability issue. The plots are good but held together with smoke and mirrors.
Reading Rollins' books are a frustrating endeavor. This and other Rollins' thrillers could be a great books but it just doesn't happen. I give up waiting for better. There are much better thrillers being written.

Better than the DaVinci Code.......2007-08-27

Not sure which came first - the DaVinci Code or this book, but this is definitely better. The two books are very similar with regard to religious secrets, code-breaking, etc. Had I read Map of Bones first, I would have loved it 10 times more, as it is more believable and a more interesting plot. I still enjoyed it, but couldn't help thinking "gee, this is a lot like the DaVinci Code..."

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Reader's Edition)

Average customer rating:

A very good color paperback of a classic book
cheap and handy but not so very illustrated
A penultimate work in the history of the occult!
A Book to be Ensouled
Interesting Overview and Good Starting Point

The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Reader's Edition)
Manly P. Hall
Manufacturer: Tarcher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1585422509
Release Date: 2003-10-23

Book Description

A classic since 1928, this masterly encyclopedia of ancient mythology, ritual, symbolism, and the arcane mysteries of the ages is available for the first time in a compact "reader's edition."

Like no other book of the twentieth century, Manly P. Hall's legendary The Secret Teachings of All Ages is a codex to the ancient occult and esoteric traditions of the world. Students of hidden wisdom, ancient symbols, and arcane practices treasure Hall's magnum opus above all other works.

While many thousands of copies have sold since its initial publication in 1928, The Secret Teachings of All Ages has previously been available only in oversized, expensive editions. For the first time, Hall's celebrated classic is now published in an affordable trade paperback volume. Literally hundreds of entries shine a rare light on some of the most fascinating and closely held aspects of myth, religion, and philosophy from throughout the centuries.

More than one hundred line drawings and a sixteen-page color insert reproduce some of the finest illustrations of the original book, while reset and reformatted text makes this edition of The Secret Teachings of All Ages newly accessible to readers everywhere.

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Simply put, this is the most fascinating and complete occult book ever published. It represents a lifetime of research into the mythology, symbolism, and magical practices of countless cultures. From the secrets of Isis to the teachings of mystic Christianity, nearly every occult dogma imaginable is represented here. PDF searchable text-only format.

Customer Reviews:

A very good color paperback of a classic book.......2007-10-05

The Secret Teachings of All Ages is a must have book for anyone interested in esoteric knowledge. This is the best version of the book, short of obtaining one of the original 800 hard covers. It has all of the essential pictures and insets, many of which are absent in the reader's edition.

cheap and handy but not so very illustrated.......2007-07-12

a nice book containing alot info on many ancients topics. see index. Manly Hall has done a great job here. At some chapters it is nice to know some more of the current mytology on beforehand.
for a book this big it's good to have it in a handy paperback. The text is over 70 years and copyright is not renewed so this book is also freely available on the internet. I was hoping this printed book would be more illustrated than the online version. it does have some nice color illustration in the midle but througout the book it was not as illustrated as I expected.

A penultimate work in the history of the occult!.......2007-06-08

This is probably one of the most voluminous books I've ever read, but I won't complain. I really think that the author had a keen knowledge that seems to be missing among more "elusive" new-age types. I am almost finished reading it and I can say this book is quite interesting; the only chapters that didn't fascinate me had to do with science, but I'm really not one for science and never have been.

A Book to be Ensouled.......2007-05-19

I can add little to what the others that have reviewed this book have said other than to give it my highest personal endorsement. Mr. Hall was that rarest of true scholars- the Agrippa of our age.

There are those that will question why genuine "secret teachings" should be published for the general public. The author answers this near the end of the book in recounting the tale of Alexander's displeasure in hearing that his mentor Aristotle had published one of his most profound discourses for anyone to read. Aristotle's reply was that those who lacked spiritual comprehension would gain little from reading the book. That is also true in our time. Most people will not read this book, and those who do (if not ready) will dismiss it as nonsense. That certainly applied to me in my youth. It is a foolproof lock to wisdom- it will sound like foolishness to those who have not yet obtained to spiritual comprehension. You have to be capable of contemplating such teachings and then internalizing them (or "ensouling" them in the author's terminology.)

This book is truly a link of the Golden Chain. The author understood the importance of the Mysteries, of Pythagoras and Plato, of the perennial wisdom that flows through the ages. That is why this book will never be dated- such wisdom springs from the Source and can only be recollected. That Hall could have mastered so much in his 20's is remarkable. That he was sensitive to the growing danger of unbalanced soulless materialism so young makes him a true prophet. Given his times and backgoround I can only assume that this man was directly initiated by the Gods themselves.

This Tarcher/Penguin edition is truly a reader's edition. The type is actually readable as opposed to some of the reduced facsimile editions. It is unabridged and most of the important illustrations are included. The table of contents is very detailed and useful and there is a full index. Still, one day, I will own my own copy of the magnificent full-sized original for it is as much a work of art as it is a compendium of knowledge and wisdom.

Interesting Overview and Good Starting Point.......2007-04-12

This is a good overview of some of the various "secret" teachings throughout history. Rather than sate my curiosity, it made me more curious about these teachings and the unifying themes within. I think the book was a little too speculative at times and had a heavy leaning towards Masons and Rosicrucians. That said, I recommend it for anyone who wants to get a sense of the secret teachings that seem to be a part of all ages, both outside and hidden within the traditional religious teachings.

Rule by Secrecy: The Hidden History That Connects the Trilateral Commission, the Freemasons, and the Great Pyramids

Average customer rating:

It makes you think
Informative
All roads lead back to Sumer
Rule by Secrecy
Mythic religious fiction

Rule by Secrecy: The Hidden History That Connects the Trilateral Commission, the Freemasons, and the Great Pyramids
Jim Marrs
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060931841
Release Date: 2001-04-24

Book Description

What secrets connect Egypt's Great Pyramids, the Freemasons, and the Council on Foreign Relations? In this astonishing book, celebrated journalist Jim Marrs examines the world's most closely guarded secrets, tracing the history of clandestine societies and the power they have wielded – from the ancient mysteries to modern–day conspiracy theories.

Searching for truth, he uncovers disturbing evidence that the real movers and shakers of the world collude covertly to start and stop wars, manipulate stock markets, maintain class distinctions, and even censor the news. Provocative and utterly compelling, Rule by Secrecy offers a singular worldview that may explain who we are, where we came from, and where we are going.

Customer Reviews:

It makes you think.......2007-07-04

I do not know if everything what Jim Marrs put in this book is as he says. I think there is a wide percentage of speculation and it would have been better if every author quoted could be referred to a specific book. That kind of information is not included.

Nevertheless, it is a book that gives us a hint of what could be happening around us everyday, of what we are not aware or we didn't even notice.

Summing up, it is a very different view of the world that couldn't be put aside, because maybe, it is the vision of the real world where we live.

Informative.......2007-06-20

Okay, the alien stuff is paranoid and silly. The stuff on bankers and the UN, CFR, Trilateral commision is pretty much documented and anyone can look up. Fascinating read. And about 85% is documented and provable.

All roads lead back to Sumer.......2007-06-06

After I decided to learn the truth about who really runs the world and what not, I picked up this book since it seemed to tie together all the things I was wondering about, going back to the ancient mysteries. Jim Marrs really does an amazing job of compiling all this information and tracing it back through history to the Sumerian texts about the Anunnaki. If you are at all interested in shattering the false view of reality our society is conditioned to accept, then take the red pill, and read this book.

Rule by Secrecy.......2007-05-31

Marrs gets through a little over half of this book doing a great job of exposing the new world order, reminding me of a newer up to date version of None Dare Call it Conspiracy by Gary Allen. He exposes the CFR, Trilateral Commision, Bilderbergers, the Federal Reserve, and that all roads lead to oligarchal business and banking families like the Rothschilds and Rockefellers. Marrs also shows the role that was played by these people in fomenting, funding and profiting from both sides of almost all major wars going back to the days of Napoleon. He does drop the ball when he briefly discusses "Nazi Occultism" and uses idiots like Trevor Ravenscroft and Peter Lavenda as sources.

From there he shows the role played by Masonic secret socieities in the French revolution, what is known about the Bavarian Illuminati and a few other secret societies. After that he goes into Knights Templar/Merovingian Bloodline/Priory of Scion territory, which while that stuff is interesting and should be studied, its all just conjecture. Actually those topics have became a whole genre onto themselves in recent years. Besides that I've always thought that Priory of Scion lists that the authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail got ahold of were either an out and out hoax perpetrated by the authors of Holy Blood Holy Grail, or put out as intentional disinformation by somebody trying to mislead them and the public.

After the Merovingian stuff Marrs gets way out there by going into Sitchen/Von Daniken territory. Here is where Marrs really loses me. Maybe I missed something but is he claiming that this is the hidden knowledge that the secret societies of the world elites hold? That the true origins of the human race are that we are hybridized creations of aliens from another planet?! Hey I'm not an atheist and I believe in a lot of stuff that the average person would consider pretty far out but this is just a bit much even for me. I'm familar with Marrs work and he's a very well researched, down to earth guy normally so it really surprised me that he included this in Rule by Secrecy. Especially considering I've heard him on radio shows several times making fun of David Ickes wacky reptilian theories.

But that aside I'd still recomend reading this book, if not buying it if you can get it for cheap because whats good in this is great. Just take a few things, especially the last chapter, with a few thousand grains of salt.

Mythic religious fiction.......2007-05-31

"Rule by Secrecy: The Hidden History That Connects the Trilateral Commission, the Freemasons, and the Great Pyramids" is a clumsy yet informative and entertaining collection of cross-cited references concerning Masonic history, Rosicrucianism, and Egyptology with geo-politics, & lastly aristocratic geneologies. The majority of citations stem from David Icke, a controversial and notable conspiracy theorist whom correlates geo-politics with ambiguous research and disreputable claims against Freemasonry. I myself find it fascinating how such authors fail to give credit to the propensity of the human species to greatness. All cultural and religious achievements {a frequent target of this behaviour are the Sphinx and Great Pyramids} are viewed by conspiracy theorists as centres of diabolic plots to enslave the lesser classes.

Inheritors of a Dying World have within our dominion the creative execution of the revolutionary Laws of Imperial Liberty to overcome our dire desolation and ruin in this emerging historical paradigm. Initiated Oracles journeying on the Path of Forgotten Knowledge know a Great Ordeal of purification and consecration overshadows history; and that the profane masses would become slavishly appalled by this Initiation of the World. Out of the fires of purification and consecration, a New Order would then arise, promulgating the revolutionary precepts of the Libertine, the privileged, the patriciate.

The Patriciate, the secret few, the sanctity of Elitism heralds a New World Order of self-government, self-legislation, and s-elf-discipline. Inscribe this into your Undying and Secret Souls with the sacramental blood split upon the holy lands, O' kindred of the earth: patriciate is the progeny of a republic. Democracy is a vice to Imperial Liberty - the Grace of Destiny is of the elect. Dominance and submission hearken a new dichotomy in human society; there is a master, there is a slave.

This is what the author, and many conspiracy theorists fail to understand. The geo-political and cultural status quo simply cannot be maintained in the global age. Paradigms of elitism and imperial Liberty were modified by the religious institutions of the native countries to whom they were introduced. Applications of Law to every Woman and Man according to condition are fundamental. "...A democracy is impracticable beyond the Limits of municipality." {Thomas Jefferson to Isaac H. Tiffany, 1816}. Independence of the Will of a democratic society is a solecism in the privileged Patriciate. It is the elite and elect right of a society to change political principles and constitutions at Will to serve the greater good. The goal of the Elite, of the Patriciate is to convoke theoretical politics and government to the forefront of society, be it against the Will of the low men or not. Governments and religious institutions, it is true, have failed to mark the subtle evolution and dire tribulation of the initiation of the world, which is taking place under their vigilant eyes.

Similar to the bestseller Da Vinci Code, which this title predates, the book tries to incite paranoia and sensationalism by merging fiction with religion and mysticism. There is history and there is conjecture. Moreover, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, and Egyptology, do not feature prominently in this book. The predictable conclusion outlines a vast history-shattering conspiracy that reveals extraterrestrial involvement and their human breeding, with Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism and the Illuminati Heritage.

Secret societies have existed since Mankind first began to record its myths and religions. For thousands of years societies have existed safeguarding secret religious teachings transmitted through the generations. Monuments, Apocrypha, ordained occult knowledge, catacombs, forgotten ciphers, and secret sacrifices all have been kept guarded by the heritage of the Illuminati.

The book does provide stimulation for further research in the style of others in its genre {"Holy Blood, Holy Grail"; "Temple and the Lodge"; "Codex Magica"; and of course the "Da Vinci Code"} but falls short of any serious research into the Illuminati Heritage

~ Joshua Seraphim,
author of Babylon: Secret Rituals of Illuminati

"The few who understand the system, will either be so interested from it's profits or so dependant on it's favors, that there will be no opposition from that class."
-Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1863)

"The great strength of our Order lies in its concealment, let it never appear, in any place in its own name, but always covered by another name, and another occupation."
-Father Adam Weishaupt
{1748-1811 A.D.}

Freemasons For Dummies (For Dummies (History, Biography & Politics))

Average customer rating:

An Exciting Delve Into Freemasonry
Great book
The Facts, and nothing but the facts...
Great resource for the aspiring mason
An easily accessible text about the organization.

Freemasons For Dummies (For Dummies (History, Biography & Politics))
Christopher Hodapp
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
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ASIN: 0764597965

Book Description

At last, a plain-English guide to Freemasonry-the secret society that's reportedly at the center of Dan Brown's forthcoming novel The Solomon Key

With Freemasonry featured prominently in The Da Vinci Code as well as the hit movie National Treasure, it's no wonder that more and more people are curious about this ancient organization, and interest is sure to intensify when Dan Brown's new blockbuster appears. This balanced, eye-opening guide demystifies Freemasonry, explaining everything from its elaborate rituals and cryptic rites to the veiled symbols and their meanings. The book profiles famous Freemasons throughout history including many of America's Founding Fathers as well as prominent politicians and business leaders offers a balanced assessment of the many controversies and conspiracy theories that continue to swirl around Freemasonry. For anyone who wants an evenhanded overview of Freemasonry's past, present, and future, this guide is the key.

Christopher Hodapp (Indianapolis, IN) is a Mason who has traveled extensively reporting on Masonic practices in Great Britain, France, and elsewhere. He is currently a Past Master and a Master of his lodge. Hodapp edits the lodge newsletter and has written for the Grand Lodge magazine, the Indiana Freemason.

Customer Reviews:

An Exciting Delve Into Freemasonry.......2007-08-23

This book, which is the first one of three written by different authors and publishers in a similar style over the past couple of years, is a must read for anyone contemplating joining the Craft, so that he might ask intelligent questions of the Brothers he knows and who he will meet. It is wide-ranging in its scope and comprehensive in its coverage.

Great book .......2007-08-16

This book was great it gave a wonderful overview of freemasonry. I read this book before I was initiated. it is very well writen to the point and easy to understand. I recommened this book to anyone that is interested in joining the fraternity or if you are just interested in what it is about. For you Masons out there I have used this book for my friends and family that have asked me about Freemasonry. I gave it to a friend of mine who read it and after reading it has asked if he can join.

The Facts, and nothing but the facts..........2007-08-11

This is a great overview of the history of the Masons and all fraternal organizations and a good overview of the craft. I recommend it to all Masons and Mason-Wannabe's. A good read and great info!

Great resource for the aspiring mason.......2007-06-29

This book has been a great resource for me while learning about the history and structure of the Freemasons. About 4 months ago I finally took the step and petitioned my local lodge. Since then, I have undergone a background check, meet and greet, recommendation process, investigation by a 3 person committee and a ballot in open lodge at which point I was accepted into the fraternity. Since my lodge has "gone dark" for the next 2 months and I am awaiting my Entered Apprentice Degree, I wanted to take the time to study the history and trappings of the Craft WITHOUT ruining the surprise of the rituals. The Author took great care not to expose any Masonic secrets which meant that this was exactly what the Doctor ordered.

I have also purchased The Complete Idiot's Guide to Freemasonry (Complete Idiot's Guide to) and have found that to be an equally compelling read. You can't go wrong with either of these as far as I'm concerned.

An easily accessible text about the organization........2007-06-21

If you are interested in the Freemasons and are willing to accept that they are not to blame for everything from the great flood to 9/11 then you will find this an interesting look at the organization. Sometimes the truth is even stranger then the rumors and this will be the case as you explore there traditions and rituals of the group.

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