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

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.

Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory

Average customer rating:

Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory
Good Book
Interesting
Fascinating read!
interesting but slow

Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory
Edward F. Malkowski
Manufacturer: Bear & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Early Civilization | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1591430488
Release Date: 2005-12-31

Book Description

Presents conclusive evidence that ancient Egypt was originally the remnant of an earlier, highly sophisticated civilization

â€¢ Supports earlier speculations based on myth and esoteric sources with scientific proof from the fields of genetics, engineering, and geology

â€¢ Provides further proof of the connection between the Mayans and ancient Egyptians

â€¢ Links the mystery of Cro-Magnon man to the rise and fall of this ancient civilization

In the late nineteenth century, French explorer Augustus Le Plongeon, after years of research in Mexicoâ€™s YucatÃ¡n Peninsula, concluded that the Mayan and Egyptian civilizations were related--as remnants of a once greater and highly sophisticated culture. The discoveries of modern researchers over the last two decades now support this once derided speculation with evidence revealing that the Sphinx is thousands of years older than Egyptologists have claimed, that the pyramids were not tombs but geomechanical power plants, and that the megaliths of the Nabta Playa reveal complex astronomical star maps that existed 4,000 years before conventional historians deemed such knowledge possible.

Much of the past support for prehistoric civilization has relied on esoteric traditions and mythic narrative. Using hard scientific evidence from the fields of archaeology, genetics, engineering, and geology, as well as sacred and religious texts, Malkowski shows that these mythic narratives are based on actual events and that a highly sophisticated civilization did once exist prior to those of Egypt and Sumer. Tying its cataclysmic fall to the mysterious disappearance of Cro-Magnon culture, Before the Pharaohs offers a compelling new view of humanityâ€™s past.

Customer Reviews:

Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory.......2007-09-28

Flawed premise followed by equally flawed argumentation can lead you to any conclusion you wish to find. This book is no different from the multitude of books out there trying to capitalize on the basic ignorance people have of the wealth of information we really do possess about the history of pre-Dynastic Egypt.

There's no mysterious connection between the Maya and they Egyptians...their pyramids are separated not only by thousands of miles of ocean, but by thousands of YEARS in time! The Sphinx at Giza has been proven beyond any reasonable doubt to be Fourth Dynasty in its origin... and not the fanciful product of some mysterious "Lost Civilization" for which not a stitch of evidence exists anywhere in the world. The "older sphinx" debate died when unbiased geologists (Reader, Solenhofen, Harrell, etc) looked at the site and easily explained the erosion patterns they saw within the timeframe required.

This book relies upon defunct theories from the 19th century as its theoretical foundation, and then proceeds to lead the (hopefully ignorant) reader down the rabbit hole to a place that has nothing whatsoever to do with real Egyptology, Egypt, or human history.

This book, by its very nature, is not worth the money or time to read it.

Good Book.......2007-08-13

Arrived quickly and fed into a research project that I am conducting. Excellent questions and surprisingly a lot of sound answers. Good reading if you question the status quo of things.

Interesting.......2007-07-12

The book is well written and very thought provoking. Seems well balanced considering the non-orthodox conclusions made by the author. If you have an interest, like I do, in speculative prehistory, a la Graham Handcock, then you will enjoy this book. I like that the author, unlike some, does not sweepingly dismiss conventional science and orthodox views and therefore does not come off as a fringe lunatic.

Fascinating read!.......2007-05-12

I had just come back from a trip to Egypt when I ordered this book. This book is for those genuinely interested in delving into the roots of an ancient civilisation. Its not a novel - so please don't insult the author by judging it as "slow" as has been stated in another review. Its an oustandingly well-researched, fascinating and thought-provoking study for those who have so often wondered about the origins and amazing feats of engineering of the ancient Egyptians. Malkowski is a meticulous writer who takes enormous trouble to try to clarify the origins our human history and the links between ancient civilisations and gives us the chance to make up our own minds. He forces nothing upon the reader - but dangles fascinating and seductive pieces of information which will leave you wishing for more.

interesting but slow.......2007-01-09

this book has an incredible amount of fascinating information, but it is not organized well. The writing does not grab your attention, but rather, you have to force yourself to find the interesting material. It can get a bit "Von Daniken" at times-- especially the chapter about the pyramid being a power plant, but overall it is a good, solid, informative book that challenges the typical archeological canon we are all handed. If you are willing to wade through it, you will find info that is worth while.

Atlantis and the Kingdom of the Neanderthals: 100,000 Years of Lost History

Average customer rating:

Atlantis and the Kingdom of the Neanderthals
Stick to the thesis and have some courage...
WARNING! DISINFORMATION!
Disappointing
Apples and Oranges

Atlantis and the Kingdom of the Neanderthals: 100,000 Years of Lost History
Colin Wilson
Manufacturer: Bear & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Early Civilization | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

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General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1591430593
Release Date: 2006-07-09

Book Description

The history of Neanderthal influence from Atlantis to the contemporary era

â€¢ Provides evidence of Neanderthal manâ€™s superior intelligence

â€¢ Explores the unexplained scientific and architectural feats of ancient civilizations

â€¢ Presents an alternative history of humankind since 7500 B.C. with an emphasis on esoteric traditions and the history of Christianity from the Essenes onward

In Atlantis and the Kingdom of the Neanderthals Colin Wilson presents evidence of a widespread Neanderthal civilization as the origin of sophisticated ancient knowledge. Examining remarkable archaeological discoveries that date back millennia, he suggests that civilization on Earth is far older than we have previously realized. Using this information as a springboard, Wilson then fills in the gaps in the past 100,000 years of human history, providing answers to previously unexplained scientific and architectural feats of ancient civilizations.

Wilson shows that not only did Atlantis exist but that the civilizing force behind it was the Neanderthals. Far from being the violent brutesÂ they are traditionally depicted as, Wilson shows that the Neanderthals had sophisticated mathematical and astrological knowledge, including an understanding of the precession of the equinoxes, and that they possessed advanced telepathic abilities akin to the â€œgroup consciousnessâ€ evident in flocks of birds and schools of fish. These abilities, he demonstrates, have been transmitted through the ages by the various keepers of the hermetic tradition--including the Templars, Freemasons, and other secret societies. In the course of his investigation, Wilson also finds new information about historical links between the Masonic tradition and the Essenes that indicate that America was â€œdiscoveredâ€ long before Columbus set sail and that Jesus actually survived crucifixion and fled to France with his wife Mary Magdalene.

Customer Reviews:

Atlantis and the Kingdom of the Neanderthals.......2007-09-07

This is a hard review to write. Did I enjoy reading Atlantis and the Kingdom of the Neanderthals? Absolutely, without a doubt. Did I feel that the author made a good case for a connection between Atlantis and Neanderthals? No, not really. He never really got to that part in any real depth.

I started reading Atlantis and the Kingdom of the Neanderthals with great interest and enthusiasm. The author discussed the concepts that in the past our continental plates have shifted and that the earth's tilt has also changed. These are scientific facts that most people learn in high school. I was eager to see an examination of this movement as relates to Antarctica, how the author would place Neanderthals on Antarctica, how he would connect the two.

Unfortunately, the book quickly evolved in an attempt to present as much information as possible about every ancient mystery know to man: the pyramids of the Piri Reis map, Egypt, Mu, the Biblical floods, the man in the iron mask, the death of Jesus, and the Priory of Sion. Information about these topics ranged from scientific reports and solid data collection methodology to popular ancient mystery books and PBS specials to hearsay and theories by author friends.

My best advice is that you don't pick up this book because you wish to find out the connection between Atlantis and Neanderthals. Instead, pick up this book because it is full of interesting theories, summaries of information collected about a number of ancient mysteries, and contains a really great bibliography of like minded material.

Stick to the thesis and have some courage..........2007-08-29

Some great ideas here, but very little real meat to sink your teeth into. I live and view the World by 2 basic principles: 1) It has been shown historically that at least 90% of the belief systems or opinion based knowledge of the majority of the people who live in "modern" societies is false. And not just a little off base, but completely 180 degrees away from what later became discovered as "the truth". It doesn't matter if we're talking about Neanderthals, Atlantis, JFK's assassination, why the stock market crashed in 1929, if Vitamin C can cure cancer, or what happened on Sept 11th, 2001. If you look at what the "average" person believes (which is derived from various mass media sources) at the time of the event, and indeed often many years afterward, it will (at least 90% of the time) be completely at odds with the later exposed facts, evidence, and ultimately the truth. But for those who recognise this statistical FACT, looking in the exact opposite direction of what the "man in the street" thinks is very often an excellent predictor of the truth; and 2) Where there is smoke, there is always fire.

Therefore, because of the above 2 principles, Neanderthals, Atlantis, and what occured over the past 100,000 years is no doubt crucial to our development and where we find ourselves in modern times. And because there has been such a well organised "conspiracy" (and I don't use that word lightly here) by the mainstream media over the last 150 years or more to discredit the importance or even existence of Neanderthals, Atlantis, and human history beyond 7 thousand years ago, then I now assume that there is much more than smoke; there must be a raging fire of truth within these related topics. Unfortunately, Colin Wilson doesn't take us there to roast our marshmellows.

WARNING! DISINFORMATION!.......2007-08-12

I like Colin Wilson's work but I must warn you! He has made a BIG mistake here in saying that the people of Atlantis were Neanderthal. WRONG! Atlanteans were peace-loving pagan CRO-MAGNON. The Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal were both intelligent but the Neanderthal were the ones responisble for the 'evil' gene...responsible for war and hate and control of people. Cro-Magnon later blended in with the Neanderthals and Bushman and Mongoloids, etc creating us....

The Neanderthal ones were and are the white monotheistic Jews that still control the world today. They stole the Atlantian knowledge and pagan beliefs of the Goddess and her Shepard Consort and twisted them into the christian ones of Jesus and Mary today.

For more info on this check out books by Michael Bradly like:
The Iceman Inheritance
Swords at Sunset: Last Stand of North America's Grail Knights

...and his website with a specific article on this very subject and more:

http://www.michaelbradley.info/

Disappointing.......2007-01-25

Let me begin this review by saying that I have enjoyed many of Colin Wilson's other books. I was first introducted to his writings through the land-mark work, "Mysteries." That, as well as similar books, impressed me with Wilson's sober scholarship and his willingness to have an open-mind that was nevertheless tempered with a good deal of academic research.

That being said, I'm not quite sure what happened between Wilson's other work and this. I myself have some pretty radical theories about lost history, but there is a point where certain notions must be presented with at least a grain of salt. Wilson displays an incredible level of credulity for tenuous fringe theories, wholeheartedly swallowing and then regurgitating highly debated beliefs such as the antiquity of Freemasonry (as put forth by Lomas and Knight) and the now widely popularized Baigent and Leigh theory of the holy bloodline of Christ. These aren't presented as ideas or possibilities, as I would have expected in any of Wilson's earlier, more respectable works, but simply put forth as fact. In addition to the overly-credulous tone, throughout the book, there is this general feeling that most of Wilson's material is simply a restatement of other works. In fact, there is little Wilson to be seen in this book. He spends much more time extensively quoting or rewording material from other sources. The theories about Neanderthal man which posit a different sort of intelligence are certainly intriguing, but for as much new material as Wilson presents, I think these ideas would have bee more at home in a magazine article, not a full-length book. If you have read Wilson's other books, I can't say you'll be missing much if you skip this one.

Apples and Oranges.......2007-01-10

This book is an entertaining read, but potential purchasers should not be misled by the title. Wilson does discuss Atlantis, and he does discuss Neanderthals, but he does not offer proof that connects the two, and such does not appear to be the book's premise. "100,000 Years of Lost History" would have been a more appropriate title. Nor should readers anticipate that this book builds on "The Atlantis Blueprint," which Wilson co-authored with Rand Flem-Ath. Instead, Wilson discloses that he disagreed with Flem-Ath on a major premise of that book. This book is a mishmash of chapters on various subjects, loosely connected if connected at all. The information may not be the most up-to-date in all instances. As entertainment, however, it's a worthy purchase.

An Overview of Extraterrestrial Races: Who is Who in the Greatest Game of History

Average customer rating:

An Important Reference Book with a Metaphysical Perspective
Incredible amount of information
Caveat emptor
great reference source
Extraterrestrial Races, Who is Who

An Overview of Extraterrestrial Races: Who is Who in the Greatest Game of History
Rolf Waeber
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

UFOs | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

UFOs | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1412063604
Release Date: 2006-07-06

Product Description

This book gives an overview about all the different alien/extraterrestrial races which were and are in contact with the many civilizations on Earth.

Customer Reviews:

An Important Reference Book with a Metaphysical Perspective.......2007-01-27

There is a lot that can be said about this book, both good and bad.

The english translation is not great, with numerous instances of odd grammar and usage and occasional spelling errors. The information in the book is stuff I came across during the nineties when I was more actively involved with interviewing abductees/experiencers/contactees, reading the UFO literature (including some channeled information), and researching the UFO contact phenomenon from a variety of perspectives, all in an effort to determine the number of different alien races interacting with out planet, what they look like, and how they relate to each other. Having a book like this fifteen years ago might have saved me some leg work. However, it is important that the information in Waeber's book not be taken too literally, as it contains some internal contradictions, as well as apparent contradictions with established science in subjects such as biology, physics and planetary history.

The source material for the book is varied and that may be part of the reason for the seeming inconsistencies, as many different systems of nomenclature have emerged for trying to classify the intelligences behind UFOs. The book contains references to contact cases described in the UFO literature, such as Riley Martin's "The Coming of Tan" and Phillip H. Krapf's "The Contact Has Begun," but especially noticeable is a heavy reliance on channeled information, which cannot be corroborated, except in the sense that many different channels seem to get similar information, pointing perhaps to a common source, possibly connected with the intelligence behind the physical phenomenon of UFOs, but without offering us a means of determining veracity.

The book contains several nice pieces of artwork by Yeva, but the printing quality is mediocre and only the cover image is in color. I would have liked to see illustrations for the numerous alien races that are briefly described in the text, as well as for the various stories about alien bases, alien homeworlds and galactic history. However, to do a thoroughly illustrated version of this book would have been a much greater undertaking. If you want a similar book (although without the metaphysical bent) with more illustrations, I would recommend Ronald D. Story's "The Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters."

With its metaphysical perspective, this book is in a similar vein to Lyssa Royal's "The Prism of Lyra" and "Visitors From Within." As such, it stimulates thought and is really an essential overview of extraterrestrial races, or at least of the lore that has built up about them. I am grateful that someone has finally taken the time to assemble and publish a book like this. (I know of efforts to do a project like this in the nineties but those did not come to fruition.) I recommend Rolf Waeber's book to any serious student of the UFO phenomenon, but with the caveat that you also consider other approaches to the question of "Who is Who" among our visitors.

Incredible amount of information.......2006-08-14

I absolutely disagree with the hate review below by NJ Pinney. Without at least some knowledge concerning extraterrestrials ( modern / ancient ) this book might be perceived by a few readers as somewhat science fictional, but its not. It contains an incredible amount of information, some obviously from a metaphysical viewpoint. I don't think this book is meant to be an easy read, after all it is a catalog, all in alphabetical order, refreshingly accompanied by fascinating alien art and poems. If the reader is not familiar with Ezekiels encounter with "god", unfortunately that poem wouldn't make much sense. The whole biblical event from a ufological perspective. Outstanding! "An Overview of Extraterrestrial Races" is simply a must have for any ET enthusiasts, to have an open mind would be helpful.

Sam Dylaney
Chicago, Ill.

Caveat emptor.......2006-05-19

Be warned about this book. It is a book of lists. It has lists of alien races, starships, mother ships by name, etc. It also includes some radical new ideas about the Bilderbergers and the United States. BUT it does not attach reference sources for any of this information. It leaves much doubt of the authenticity even of the whole book. The author invites feedback so here goes.

When I see something so extreme as this, and if it is scholarly and it covers its bases with reference sources, I am delighted. But with this my hunch says maybe disinformation. Say it's science fiction; then it's okay.

The translation is poor, frequently avoiding idiomatic English. The typesetting is poor with paragraphs neither indented nor line spaced making it a chore to read. The artwork and the poetry is poor. The author uses an arrow at the beginning of some lines with no explanation.

The author is Swiss and I had always thought the Swiss had systematic ways of doing things--but not here. If the author had taken a fraction of his list names and attached references and a bit more of explanatory text and footnotes it might have been a valuable reference--but alas not.

Under the Amazon star rating system, it allows one star as the lowest rating, which I gave it. I would have prefered to give it no star or a black hole instead. This is the first time I have ever thrown a book into the trash. I would not even want to give it away to anyone I respect.

great reference source.......2006-04-09

A life time of research has created the most comprehensive compilation of ET information I've come across.A must have for all those who think outside the box. Jean O'Hara

Extraterrestrial Races, Who is Who.......2006-03-21

This compendium is an excellant resource. I found it quite extensive and informative. I actually found it quite amazing that all this information is known but is officially ignored. For anybody with an interest in the other inhabitants of our universe this book is a must have. I also found the art to be very compelling and wished there was more.

The Atlantis Blueprint: Unlocking the Ancient Mysteries of a Long-Lost Civilization

Average customer rating:

Tiresome hodge-podge
My best book on Ancient Mysteries
Atlantis Blueprint
quite good, thought provoking, but incomplete
A Good Addition To The Atlantis Myth Cannon

The Atlantis Blueprint: Unlocking the Ancient Mysteries of a Long-Lost Civilization
Colin Wilson , Rand Flem-Ath , and Rand Flem-Ath
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Early Civilization | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0440508983
Release Date: 2002-05-28

Book Description

CAN ARCHAEOLOGY’S GREATEST MYSTERIES
BE TRACED BACK TO THE LOST
CIVILIZATION OF ATLANTIS?

The Great Pyramid. Stonehenge. Machu Picchu. For centuries, these and other sacred sites have attracted pilgrims, scholars, and adventurers drawn by the possibility that their true spiritual and technological secrets remain hidden. Who could have built these elaborate monuments? How did they do it? And what were their incomprehensible efforts and sacrifices designed to accomplish?

Now comes a revolutionary theory that connects these mysteries to reveal a hidden global pattern--the ancient work of an advanced civilization whose warnings of planetary cataclysm now reverberate across one hundred millennia. Here is startling evidence of an intelligent society dating back as much as 100,000 years--one that sailed the oceans of the world, building monuments to preserve and communicate its remarkable wisdom.

The Atlantis Blueprint is the authors’ term for a complex network of connections between these sacred sites that trace back to Atlantis: a sophisticated maritime society that charted the globe from its home base in Antarctica...until it was obliterated by devastating global changes it anticipated but could not escape. Opening up a Pandora’s box of ancient mysteries, lost worlds, and millennial riddles, The Atlantis Blueprint is a story as controversial, fascinating, dangerous--and inspiring--as any ever told.

Customer Reviews:

Tiresome hodge-podge.......2007-09-24

I'll be brief--this gang (and it is a gang) has been churning out rehashes of this material now for too long. Each book promises much but delivers not a heck of a lot that's new or even insightful; intriguing bits of information are mixed in with ambiguous information and wild speculation. The writers are just catering to a market, to be ungenerous I'd say they're doing it cynically or, at best, naively.

The problem is that at some point all this endless writing has to cease and some real archeology needs to take place--as in going in, digging, and finding. There are hints and clues aplenty but every fragment lacks context. There's a lot of human history to account for and simply taking every oddity and attributing it to "Atlantis" is absurd. Each strange artifact may have a unique history unrelated to that of any other artifacts. There are plenty of archaeologists working in established areas with mountains of hard evidence who are still trying to gain even a basic understanding of this or that ancient culture. These Atlantis and Pyramid types, playing with next-to-nothing, seem to have far too much figured out. That should make everyone suspicious.

This is an industry with a product and a market and I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that if you surveyed that market you'd find the majority of the consumers read mostly fluff sensationalist books like this and very few tackle straight-up publications on archeology and anthropology which, if this topic is worth considering (and I think it is) means most of the fans are operating in a near-complete knowledge vacuum--they have no way of actually evaluating the information presented here. Tragically, people who do have scientific backgrounds encounter books like this and are instantly turned off to the subject--bad writing, bad logic, wild speculations jump out at them. To them it's crap and anything potentially valid is, tragically, tossed out with the bathwater.

You'd almost think books of this sort exist simply to kill any professional interest in the subjects.

My best book on Ancient Mysteries.......2007-03-22

I can honestly say that I found this book gripping. The authors researched everything excellently and the way it was set out was perfect. It was wonderful how they managed to sort out all the many bits of research by hundreds of other authors and single out the most important relevant to Atlantis. I shall be reading this book again and again and plan to buy several of the other books mentioned in this one. Bravo to the authors!

Atlantis Blueprint.......2007-01-11

I find it very interresting, even though I must disagree with the author's idea of the exact location for Atlantis Continant. I also find it very interresting concerning the shift of the North Pole Magnetic field, and I believe that we are seeing the same result today of another shift instead of what many wants us to believe concerning the Globle Warming. I can see now why the North America continant was under Ice in the Ice age at one time, who knows where the next Ice age will appear? I guess that is my two cent opinion. Well, I am fifty Nine years old so I guess I can truthfully say I am over the age 13.

quite good, thought provoking, but incomplete.......2006-11-05

There is just far too much evidence (physical, theoretical, mathmatical and much of it plainly scientific by any standards) that very advanced cultures have existed in our distant past. And, although they probably did not have plastic cell phones stapled to their ears, drive SUVs with 21 inch mags, or felt the need to consume copious bowls of carmel machiatos, this does not mean that they did not achieve a certain mastery over communication, travel, nutrition, health, astronomy, and science in general. They were every bit as sophisticated as we think we might be. They were clearly on this planet, they widely travelled this planet, and they built many mega projects (or inspired other later peoples to do so) before they died off (or left the planet, or were genocided, or quickly assimilated with other more primitive cultures for some reason). This much has to be viewed as fact, although any mainstream historian, geologist, archaeologist, and / or anthropolgist is much too busy singing for their collective suppers to ever be honest with themselves or the rest of us. So, sadly, ironically, and even paradoxically, current mainstream academics only hinder humanity's quest for the truth about our origins, and for this reason, they are better left out of the discussion and their cries of psuedo-science and blasphomy ignored, at least for now, which is what makes this kind of book and others so important to read and ponder.

Having said that, the Atlantis story is complicated and many previous authors lack, in my opinion, a wide enough perspective to really tie it all together. That is my primary critique of this book. Cleary Antartica is a very important piece to the mystery as it was in a much different local in the not too distant past, but there are many other sites (the Bermuda Triangle area especially Bimini Island, and the Azores region, for examples) that deserve at least as much attention due to various discovered artifacts and phenomina. So, just where was Atlantis? What was it exactly (city, region, country, continent, religion, movement)? Which land masses sunk, arose, shifted, and at what times? What roles did interstellar comets, asteroids, or our obviously artificial moon play? These are questions that must be addressed within a more complete thesis in order to be more fruitful and to really explain the Atlantis saga satisfactorily. This book falls a little short by these criteria.

A Good Addition To The Atlantis Myth Cannon.......2005-08-25

If you're interested in Atlantis, lost civilizations, etc., then this book is definitely worth a read. I found the most interesting pieces to be the evidence of Antarctica as a potential site for Atlantis, complete with comparisons to ancient maps, the concept of the North Pole having moved twice before from the Yukon and Hudson Bay, and the subsequent mapping of ancient sites. No doubt the authors have uncovered some very interesting correlations here on locations of ancient sacred sites and their relationships to each other. These issues are something that "mainstream" science should definitely be addressing, but of course will refuse to and call this book "pseudo-science". Of course that's just any subject the mainstreamers don't want to address. Much of the rest of the book gets bogged down in details, and Wilson's third-person approach to writing about Flem-Ath is annoying and over done. Still and all, a good read with many interesting proposals put forth.

Three Early Modern Utopias: Thomas More: Utopia / Francis Bacon: New Atlantis / Henry Neville: The Isle of Pines (Oxford World's Classics)

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Prose which still affects our thinking

Three Early Modern Utopias: Thomas More: Utopia / Francis Bacon: New Atlantis / Henry Neville: The Isle of Pines (Oxford World's Classics)
Thomas More , Francis Bacon , and Henry Neville
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0192838857

Book Description

Thomas More: Utopia/ Francis Bacon: New Atlantis/Henry Neville: The Isle of Pines With the publication of Utopia (1516), Thomas More introduced into the English language not only a new word, but a new way of thinking about the gulf between what ought to be and what is. His Utopia is at once a scathing analysis of the shortcomings of his own society, a realistic suggestion for an alternative mode of social organization, and a satire on unrealistic idealism. Enormously influential, it remains a challenging as well as a playful text. This edition reprints Ralph Robinson's 1556 translation from More's original Latin together with letters and illustrations that accompanied early editions of Utopia. Utopia was only one of many early modern treatments of other worlds. This edition also includes two other, hitherto less accessible, utopian narratives. New Atlantis (1627) offers a fictional illustration of Francis Bacon's visionary ideal of the role that science should play in the modern society. Henry Neville's The Isle of Pines (1668), a precursor of Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, engages with some of the sexual, racial, and colonialist anxieties of the end of the early modern period. Together these texts illustrate the diversity of the early modern utopian imagination, as well as the different purposes to which it could be put.

Customer Reviews:

Prose which still affects our thinking.......2000-09-18

Literature before James Joyce, before Jane Austen, before Daniel Defoe: No Ulysses, no Emma, no Robinson Crusoe - for modern readers it is hard to imagine a stock of English literature without the existence of these and other important writers and their `novels'. What kind of literature could one refer to in a pre-novelistic age? As a matter of fact, there were authors, such as Sir Thomas More and Sir Francis Bacon, who wrote prose which, indeed, still affects our thinking. However, neither More nor Bacon used English, but chose Latin as their original means of expression. For what reasons? And none of these authors was in fact a free-lance writer - they were all occupied in public and political spheres. What made them actually write fictional works? How does their fiction relate to their cultural environment - or, what was regarded as `fiction'? These texts cover a century of political, religious, scientific and literary debates and gave rise to a new understanding of knowledge, and introduced influential literary devices.

DK Readers: Atlantis, The Lost City (Level 4: Proficient Readers)

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Well Written
Looking for the legendary lost city of Atlantis
A Great Read

DK Readers: Atlantis, The Lost City (Level 4: Proficient Readers)

Manufacturer: DK CHILDREN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0789466821

Book Description

This Level 4 book is perfect for proficient readers.

Atlantis: The Story of the Lost Continent probes the question of truth or myth. Follow the evolution of a mystery that has captured the human imagination from ancient Greece to the present. These stories testify to the courage of the human spirit. These 48-page books about fascinating subjects like pirates, mummies, and volcanoes are for proficient readers who can understand a rich vocabulary and challenging sentence structure. In addition to the stunning photographs, informative sidebars, and glossary, readers will find archival photographs and paintings. Averaging 4,500 to 5,000 words in length, Level 4 books are 40 percent pictures and 40 percent text. The Dorling Kindersley Readers combine an enticing visual layout with high-interest, easy-to-read stories to captivate and delight young bookworms who are just getting started. Written by leading children's authors and compiled in consultation with literacy experts, these engaging books build reader confidence along with a lifelong appreciation for nonfiction, classic stories, and biographies. There is a DK Reader to interest every child at every level, from preschool to grade 4.

Customer Reviews:

Well Written.......2006-01-16

I purchased this for my son who is 9. He enjoyed it to my surprise and pleasure! It is well illustrated and made him think outside the box ( not that hard for a nine yr.old). The questions this book generates in the young reader makes it a valuable book in their education.

Looking for the legendary lost city of Atlantis.......2002-06-30

I was always more interested in the "real" Atlantis that the ones that popped up in fiction ever since I read a "Reader's Digest" article that explained how archeologists were looking at the volcanic island of Thera in the Aegean sea as the legendary island. The most interesting part of the article talked about how the volcanic explosions that destroyed Thera may well have been the cause of the plagues of Egypt, all of which are apparently associated with volcanic eruptions. Since I am planning a trip to Greece early next year that could involve a few days on the black sand beaches of Thera, I have been doing a bit of research on both the place and the legends of Atlantis.

"Atlantis the Lost City?" is one of the Dorling Kindersley Readers for young readers (Level 4, Proficient Readers), that combines lots of color photographs and detailed illustrations with informative text. Andrew Donkin basically informs young readers about the history of the search for Atlantis, looking at the original story told by Plato (which may have been meant as an allegory rather than a true tale), and then covering all of the various locations around the world where people have been convinced they have found the lost city/continent. Donkin takes pain to explain not only the reasons why a particular location, such as the Azores or Crete, were picked, but also the evidence that exists against those locations. Consequently, without explicitly intending to do so, "Atlantis the Lost City?" introduces young readers to how archaeologists do their work, both in terms of uncovering ancient treasures and in reasoning out where to look. Besides, you really cannot beat the price on these books.

A Great Read.......2000-10-22

A bought this book for my 8 year-old and ended up reading it myself. I've done a fair amount of my own reading on Atlantis and to my surprise I found this to be a really well written overview of many famous Atlantis ideas. The book begins with a nice retelling of Plato's original story. There are some really stunning illustrations in the book - from the original artwork showing the capital city of Atlantis as it might have been, to many photographs of undersea ruins etc. The author has done a great job, and produced a book that I and my son enjoyed in equal measure!

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the evolving faces of Atlantean myth
Good content, weak structure
Harmless and derivative
Ellis is the Ann Coulter of Atlantology
Ellis hardly the expert he pretends to be

Imagining Atlantis
Richard Ellis
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0679446028
Release Date: 1998-06-16

Amazon.com

Richard Ellis is obsessed with all things Atlantic, and he's written a number of books on the Atlantic Ocean's inhabitants and legends. Of all the stories to be found in this big sea, the lost civilization of Atlantis has been the hallucinogenic focus of passionate scholarship--why is that? Ellis writes, "Whether its source was extraterrestrial, prehistorical, or imaginary, Atlantis, unique among the Western world's myths, has become a part of our mythohistory."

In Imagining Atlantis, Ellis turns his eye to the oceanic legend that has captured the imagination of countless people, forming the basis for archaeological expeditions, historical analyses, mystical revelations, and even extraterrestrial influence. The book's first chapter, entitled "What Plato Said," relates the story in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias that started the enduring hunt for a land lost beneath the sea: "There was an island opposite the strait which you call ... the Pillars of Heracles, an island larger than Libya and Asia combined," wrote Plato. He went on to describe in ostentatious detail the civilization of Atlantis, its buildings, commerce and people--and how it was "swallowed up by the sea and vanished."

Ellis traces the conclusions of the most persistent theories of the 2,000 or so scholarly works "proving" that what Plato meant was, variously, the island of Santorini, Palestine, the Peloponnesian town of Helice, the Americas, or something more bizarre. Ellis's treatment of the multitudes of Atlantean researchers is thorough, respectful, and interested, no matter which of Desmond Lee's Atlantis response categories they fall into: crazy, geological, or historical. He follows the theories of scientists, archaeologists, mystics, and science fiction authors to their conclusions with equanimity. After outlining these theories, suggestions, and delusions, Ellis leads the reader ineffably toward the firm conclusion that Plato invented Atlantis. Plato himself would probably be either alarmed or amused that his fiction has been the subject of so much inquiry and emotion. Perhaps the philosopher--looking around for real places to write about--found that he needed a utopia to show what a civilization could be. --Therese Littleton

Book Description

Ever since Plato created the legend of the lost island of Atlantis, it has maintained a uniquely strong grip on the human imagination. For two and a half millennia, the story of the city and its catastrophic downfall has inspired people--from Francis Bacon to Jules Verne to Jacques Cousteau--to speculate on the island's origins, nature, and location, and sometimes even to search for its physical remains. It has endured as a part of the mythology of many different cultures, yet there is no indisputable evidence, let alone proof, that Atlantis ever existed. What, then, accounts for its seemingly inexhaustible appeal?

Richard Ellis plunges into this rich topic, investigating the roots of the legend and following its various manifestations into the present. He begins with the story's origins. Did it arise from a common prehistorical myth? Was it a historical remnant of a lost city of pre-Columbians or ancient Egyptians? Was Atlantis an extraterrestrial colony? Ellis sifts through the "scientific" evidence marshaled to "prove" these theories, and describes the mystical and spiritual significance that has accrued to them over the centuries. He goes on to explore the possibility that the fable of Atlantis was inspired by a conflation of the high culture of Minoan Crete with the destruction wrought on the Aegean world by the cataclysmic eruption, around 1500 b.c., of the volcanic island of Thera (or Santorini).

A fascinating historical and archaeological detective story, Imagining Atlantis is a valuable addition to the literature on this essential aspect of our mythohistory.

Customer Reviews:

the evolving faces of Atlantean myth.......2006-02-21

This is a history of stories, theories, archaeological expeditions, literature and movies about Atlantis, explained with level-headed curiosity and dry wit. Some highlights include the theories of Immanual Velikovsky and reviews of various films. For example, in George Pal's 1961 movie "Atlantis, the Lost Continent", evil Atlanteans declair, "We must conquer or be conquered. Are we not the master race?" -- while birds and bees desert the doomed continent.

From Greek papyrus scrolls to B-grade television, Ellis serves as a combo historian and art critic on trail of an evolving legend through 2,000+ years.

Good content, weak structure.......2004-12-03

Ellis's "Imagining Atlantis" is a decidedly mixed bag. On the one hand, he provides a helpful overview of a great many theories regarding Atlantis, and he makes a fairly strong argument for his opinion that Atlantis was nothing more--and nothing less--than Plato's creation, woven from a number of preexisting strands and Plato's own imagination and purposes. As a former adherent of the Minoan explanation, I was surprised to find myself nodding along with Ellis's conclusions.

Unfortunately, Ellis's valuable content is severely hampered by the surprisingly weak structure of the work. This book could have benefited from a thorough reorganization. The argument ebbs and flows, sometimes flowing back on itself. Transitions are often weak and sometimes virtually nonexistent, with nothing more than a paragraph break to signal the appearance of a new topic. Serious editing might also have caught other errors. (For example, Ellis situates Mount St. Helens 200 hundred miles south of Mount Mazama/Crater Lake; in fact, Mount St. Helens is about 200 miles north of Crater Lake.) As a former book editor, I can say that editing this work would have been a significant task--but it was well within the capabilities of a good editor, and it should have had that treatment.

Let me also add that potential readers must treat some of the reviews here with care. Ellis does not admire Ignatius Donnelly; in fact, he treats him almost scornfully. I think that, if one listens carefully, one will hear the distinct sound of axes being ground in some of these reviews. In particular, this work will not appeal to those interested in the paranormal, UFOs, and the like. But it should appeal to those who are interested in the history of ideas.

Harmless and derivative.......2004-04-26

I agree with the reader who said that this book is mostly harmless (and dry), but having just finished the book "Lost Continents" by L. Sprague de Camp, and having read this one a month or two before, I am struck by how many ideas this author borrowed from de Camp. Except for the material on Santorini, almost all the examples Ellis uses to dispute Atlantis were used in de Camp's book, which also cites them in more detail, which was published in 1954. Ellis credits de Camp in his bibliography, but, except for Santorini and the chapter on Atlantis in the movies, there is vere little material in here that wasn't in the book "Lost Continents."

Ellis is the Ann Coulter of Atlantology.......2003-09-20

This book, sketchy and selective on the facts it includes, smugly tries to assert that Atlantis was a mere invention of Plato's, even though several times during Timaeus and Critias insists that it is true, several ancient people claimed to be descendents of Atlantis, and nearly every culture around the globe has a memory of a great catacylsm that destroyed a great civilization. Reading this book will only give you half the story, and Ellis, who seems to be a minimalist when it comes to everything - ancient history, marine life, even the danger presented by great white sharks - is not the person to write this book. Especially disturbing are his attacks upon other researchers (better than him, I might add), such as Charles Berlitz. He paraphrases and misquotes them liberally, making them appear less respected than they are, all in an attempt to pump up his own inflated narrative. Many, like Lewis Spence, are no longer alive to even defend themselves. In the editorial review at the top of this column, the reviewer calls Ellis an 'an expert on all things Atlantic.' That might be stretching the truth quite a bit, too, to put it lightly. Ellis might like to sail and scuba dive like a lot of people, but anyone who knows anything about the Atlantic Ocean knows that it is the most stormy, tempestuous and mysterious ocean on the face of the earth. Not one bit of that history is laid out here. Another reviewer made mention of how detailed the research was for this book. Don't believe that either - anyone interested in the topic of Atlantis at all has come across all the same research in their findings and has but to recall it from memory. Some of it, like the stories detailing Herodotus, believe it or not, are also misrepresented and presented poorly here. In his attempts to make Plato, Herodotus, Ignatius Donnelley, Spence, Berlitz, among many others look bad in an attempt to inflate his own standing, Ellis tries to do history a great disservice. If you read this book, do yourself a favor and also read Otto Muck's "Secret of Atlantis" or even Andrew Collins' more recent "Gateway to Atlantis" to get a more balanced look, than form your own opinions. Too easy are the minimalists like Ellis being published these days.

Ellis hardly the expert he pretends to be.......2003-09-20

The parts that are useful on this book deal with the historians that discuss Atlantis, both before and after Plato. There is also a section on Atlantis in Hollywood that is very useful, but the tone of this book gets very irritating after awhile (not to mention repetitive). Ellis does not believe in Atlantis and frequently inserts his opinion in the passages when he should be discussing facts. His arrogant, overly verbose style sounds like something akin to a bad lecture, and talks down, not only to his subject, but the reader. His facts, too, are suspect and, in trying to refute the Atlantis story, he frequently resorts to character assasination of researchers when he can't prove his point. The book also looks hastily put together and sloppily edited, as if it was hurried out to capitalize on all the press from the release of Disney's 'Atlantis' movie. Ellis poses himself as an expert on the Atlantic and 'all things related to the sea' according to his bio, but most of his writing consists merely of his own opinions, and for someone who supposedly 'loves the sea', he certainly is negative about it.

Brotherhood of the Sun: A Modern Story about an Ancient Order

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Bravo Zulu
A Call To Arms
Stellar Novelette.

Brotherhood of the Sun: A Modern Story about an Ancient Order
Patrick Cain
Manufacturer: Lifestream Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 0965922316

Product Description

A novel by the author of Caucasia.

Customer Reviews:

Bravo Zulu.......2007-10-14

BZ-Bravo Zulu means "Well Done" in Navy speak.

I can't anymore than the previous reviews.So I will just say Bravo Zulu!

Hutch

A Call To Arms.......2007-08-04

Getting the knowledge of THIS book into your hands IS THE PLOT of this "fictional" tale. One gets the impression that this is only classified as fiction out of courtesy (to whom?). Sure, there are villains and heroes, and even a little chase scene, but most of this book is monologue by Wise Ones, explaining their knowledge to the layperson who is about to release it to the world, and why he shouldn't do so. So, by virtue of the fact that you get to read their explanations, you are privy to their knowledge, and that you're reading is its announcement to the world. Full of interesting facts, quotes, & suppositions, that is great reading for anyone interested in religious history, the military-industrial complex, the dysfunctional society, and ancient arts & sciences. Now that you have the knowledge, what's the next step?

Stellar Novelette........2007-05-10

A more radical and convincing speculative work than The Da Vinci Code. Plausible explanations and scientific evidence uncover the earth's cataclysmic past (& future), an ancient global civilization, and the mythical origin of religion. Other excellent books: Secret Destiny of America, The Christ Conspiracy and Golden Thread of Time.

Average customer rating:

About Atlantis...???
Thought-provoking
not just about history
THOUGHTFUL AND EXCITING SUMMARY OF ALTERNATIVE IDEAS
Wilson delivers yet again...

From Atlantis to the Sphinx
Colin Wilson
Manufacturer: Weiser Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1578633060

Book Description

In this compelling book, Colin Wilson argues that thousands of years before ancient Egypt and Greece held sway, there was a great civilization whose ships traveled the world from China to Antarctica. Their advanced knowledge of science, mathematics, and astronomy was passed on to the descendants who escaped to Egypt and South America.

From Atlantis to the Sphinx bases this assertion on a true fact - that archaeologists and geologists are at odds over the age of the Sphinx. Archaeologists claim that the Sphinx dates to classical dynastic Egypt, around 2,400 B.C. But some geologists claim that it could have been built as early as 7,000 to 10,500 B.C. The geologists' claim is based on the curious fact that the erosion of the Sphinx is more characteristic of water erosion than that of wind and sand.

Starting from the assumption that there was an advanced civilization in existence much easier than previously thought, Wilson goes on to claim that it could very well be Atlantis - not a literal island that sank, but more of a great civilization that either declined naturally or experienced a great catastrophe, passing on only a fraction of its knowledge to other peoples. From Atlantis to the Sphinx delves into what might have been a completely different knowledge system from that of modern man - one as alien to us as that of the Martians. The book sets out to reconstruct that ancient knowledge in a fascinating exploration of the remote depths of history - a ground-breaking attempt to understand how these long-forgotten peoples thought, felt, and communicated with the universe.

Customer Reviews:

About Atlantis...???.......2007-06-25

Despite the title this book does not have much to say about Atlantis. Its main points are that:

(1) civilization is much older than authorities have to date thought,
(2) 'modern' man existed in a much earlier geologic period than is commonly believed, and,
(3) 'primitive' man's mind worked in a way very different to our own, and in fact was superior in some ways, for example, a vast memory capacity.

Atlantis only features as the unknown location from which the founders of both the Egyptian and South American Indian cultures came.

On the one hand this book is pure hokum. First Wilson relies on 18th and 19th century archeologist, who favored catastrophism, and who's methods have certainly been surpassed by modern science. Second he relies greatly on modern books written by armature authors, who would certainly not be accepted by qualified experts, and who usually believe they have discovered some outlandish 'out there' truth that everybody else has missed. To give Wilson some credit the evidence that the Sphinx has been weathered by water and thus may be very much older than is generally believed is a fascinating and credible part of the book.

On the other hand Wilson devotes large sections of the book to explaining the history of ideas and what orthodox researchers currently believe. He, for example, details the currently accepted evolutionary tree of man and explains the history of how scientists arrived at it. This is all delivered in a very readable style and is thus educational to the general reader.

I must admit I read the book from cover to cover without any difficulty and was entertained virtually all the way. But if you are looking for some serious reading this is not the book for you.

Thought-provoking.......2006-02-20

This book was an unexpectedly compelling treatment of many varied aspects of what it is to be a human being and what each of us may be capable of. Being an artist in a left-brained civilization, I was especially interested in the final third of the book, which deals with the differences in left- and right-brained living and what we may have all sacrificed in the name of modern civilization. This book is a lively read and merges many disciplines in a fascinating narrative.

not just about history.......2005-02-10

Wilson has presented an interesting and plausible alternative account of the history of mankind on Earth, namely that humans have existed for much longer than orthodox academics are willing to believe, and that advanced civilizations had developed millennia before the Great Pyramids of Egypt. Most of this alternative view is based on ideas put forth previously by other researchers, and therefore if you have already read many other books on this topic you may not find a whole lot of new information here. Nevertheless, it is a decent summary of those previously proposed ideas, and thus this book serves as a good introduction to the subject. However, I feel that this summary may be too comprehensive - he tries to squeeze in so much information that it wasn't easy for me to remember everything he had said (especially all those people's names), and so the more I read the more I forgot, making it harder and harder to follow his writing.

But this book is not just about history. In fact, Wilson emphasizes that he doesn't care that much about exactly when or where those ancient civilizations started, per se. Instead, his ultimate objective is to see whether we can learn something from those ancient civilizations. He argues that prior to around 1,500 B.C., our ancestors were "right-brained" in that they had greater harmony with one another and with nature, were aware of various hidden powers of the mind, and possessed group consciousness. In contrast, modern man has become "left-brained", meaning that he tackles problems logically and analytically, which enabled the impressive technological advancements we achieved in the last 3,500 years. Wilson believes that right-brain abilities are still with us, but most of us do not take advantage of them. The author argues that inducing our right-brain consciousness can lead to good feelings and a sense of freedom, which can compensate for the anxiety and feeling of emptiness that left-brain consciousness often gives rise to.

THOUGHTFUL AND EXCITING SUMMARY OF ALTERNATIVE IDEAS.......2004-03-29

Colin Wilson is both a prolific and talented writer, whose books always reflect a lot of serious research and thought. When I found a copy of From Atlantis to the Sphinx at a book sale, I grabbed it. But I soon found I was reading a summary of the views of the major alternative history writers, and I found myself skimming through material with which I was already familiar. He covers all my favorites -- Graham Hancock, Robery Bauval, John Anthony West, Zechariah Sitchen, Rand Flem-Ath, Cremo and Thompson, and such older luminaries as Velikoksky, Hapgood, Gurdjieff and many other authors who have put forth theories about the nature and history of mankind. Despite the rehash, Wilson's comments on these writers and their ideas make for interesting reading.

For instance, he does not buy into Sitchen's idea that our solar system contains the planet Nibiru from which the Gods of Sumer came to create mankind. But he accepts much of Sitchen's remarkable scholarship on the Sumerians. He is impressed with Hapgood's data on the shifting location of earth's poles and the evidence he gathered from old maps that there was once a highly developed civilization on earth that has been forgotten. Cremo and Thompson's classic Forbidden Archeology is an insightful and amazing read, as they pile up evidence over 1000 pages showing mankind may be millions of years old, and Wilson uses their examples. Wilson provides colorful "back stories" about these authors, since he has met many of them personally.

There is purpose to Wilson's long discourse on the ideas of other authors; he delivers the goods in the end when he gives up his own fascinating theory of ancient Egyptian society. Wilson's narrative leads us to see that mankind may once have had a different way of seeing reality, the same kind of seeing as the shaman exercising "magic" rituals. He invites us to consider the Collective Mind, consciousness acting in consort to achieve some end, much as birds move in a flock. Conscousness can be concentrated to build up power and this can be expended as a physical force. How did the ancient Egyptians move those giant blocks of stone to form the pyramids? Could they have used their own collective mental power?

It is fascinating to me to read of feats that should require a huge expenditure of power (like moving giant blocks of stone), but are somehow accomplished without any application of normal means of power generation. Consider the testimony of Douchan Gersi (an interesting author NOT mentioned by Wilson) who wrote about the "flying men" of Haiti who could dematerialize in one location and rematerialize in another. There was no technology involved. Did mankind once know how to use another kind of power, one based on group consciousness? We sometimes enter this consciousness, which we identify as "peak" experience, when we seem outside linear time, and reality somehow is altered.

Wilson is telling us that because our conscousness has evolved in a different direction from our remote ancestors, we fail to grasp how they accomplished tasks like building the pyramids. He does not see teams of sweating slaves, or ridiculously long ramps, or ancient fork lifts, but simply the collective power of human consciousness working for common purpose. Wilson, as usual, entertains while building a well-documented case for his own unique alternative view of human history.

Wilson delivers yet again..........2002-06-02

I was told in high school (and not only there) that a construction made of 6 million tons of building material (!!) and with building blocks that weigh anywhere from 10 to 20 tons each and having been lifted as high as 250 feet up was done merely by using 1000s of slaves and primitive cranes..That's how the Egyptian pyramids were supposedly built. Answering to another reviewer here, you would have to be spectacularly gullible to buy such nonsense.
But I'd rather get to the point. What Colin Wilson is is a self-educated man, a person for whom the term "bibliophile" is a tremendous understatement. His strength as a writer, as many have pointed out, lays in the fact that he takes the works and theories of other people and composes them into his own, weighing the pros and cons in the search for facts, for truth. In this process he remains as open minded as such a task demands and in my opinion this is the biggest credit of respect you can pay to your readers before anything else. Why would we need another "scientist" ruminating the "same ole-same ole" regardless of how absurd or unlikely his theory is just so he fits in with the "knowledge establishment"? No thanks..
What this books maintains is then nothing that other researchers havent theorised (if not actually PROVEN) before. It provides facts and theories about a maritime civilisation that predated the Egyptians by 1000s of years and which had either the technological know how or simply possesed a totally different thought that enabled them to achieve things that seem incomprehensible to us..According to all these researchers (and Wilson) this civilisation was widely destroyed by a natural disaster but survivors of it transfered their knowledge, or more accurately, their knowledge system, to subsequent civilisations, in this case the Egyptians, but also to the Mayas to name another.
It's no easy thing to summarise what "From Atlantis to..." proposes as it composes parts and aspects from so many theories. The fairest thing to do is to read the book and allow yourself to be exposed to what it suggests and judge for your own, allthough, it must be said, if you remain/are openminded what will more likely happen is you'll feel inspired to read much-much more on the subject.
I think that exactly for that fact alone this is a great book from Wilson, it is one that pushes you to open a closet that conventional archaelogists stubbornly consider sealed. Far from... It's also a book that reads through very comfortably considering its task and it is definately very comprehensive on anything it deals with. But then again, for the initiated Wilson readers this is nothing new.
I am Greek. And Greece is a country filled with ancient "miracles" too which are being explained away by mainstream science with theories that make me laugh. Recently i was up at the Delphi temple. I'd last been there as a kid and hadnt thought much by what i saw. Wilson's books have made me look at things with new eyes. It's not what you believe it's how you come to believe in what you believe. That's why this book and its bibliography as a whole are important.

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