Book Description

Less than fifty thousand years ago mankind had no art, no religion, no sophisticated symbolism, no innovative thinking. Then, in a dramatic and electrifying change, described by scientists as "the greatest riddle in human history," all the skills and qualities that we value most highly in ourselves appeared already fully formed, as though bestowed on us by hidden powers. In Supernatural Graham Hancock sets out to investigate this mysterious "before-and-after moment" and to discover the truth about the influences that gave birth to the modern human mind.

Customer Reviews (44)

Questions for your brain
With this book, I have read most of Hancock's works, from Message of the Sphinx, Talisman, Fingertips of the Gods, among others. While this particular book strays from the so-called "real world" (as in very few actual sites are mentioned throughout the book) it still focuses on the themes Hancock started to write about years ago.

To those unfamiliar, his work - and this book is no exception - is not about giving final answers to readers. Rather, Hancock poses one of the most interesting questions you can find out there, challenging your perception of, well, reality as you know it.

The reader will initially find the assumptions here really far-fetched, but as the book progresses, it is hard to toss these assumptions out. They will stick to your brain after you've read them. I keep looking at fairies (yes, really) in a much different light.

Highly recommended for those interested on ancient cultures, the birth of life and how our civilization and phenomenos happen. I wouldn't suggest it for those firmly set on the status-quo: the idea here is to break it apart and see if the rebuilt scenario works better than the previous one.

Good Read
A wonderful read. Extremely interesting and I would certainly recommend it. I only gave it four stars because Graham Hancock is afraid to reach any conclusions. He draws the picture in great detail, but fails to hang it on any perceptible frame. Although the information about spirits, aliens, goblins and angels is enthralling, the reader doesn't know where to go with it. So we are no wiser as to what is going on.

Excellent Scholarly Work, but Rife with Strange Opinions
I really enjoyed this book (and am still reading parts of it).This book is, I think, one of the most important books one can read.It is very eye-opening and illuminating, to anyone interested in the basis of religion. It presents almost a scientific explanation to religion, without trying to "debunk" religion, which is an extremely novel approach.

One criticism I have with this book, is that the author seems to doubt too much in humanity, and put too much faith in the "spiritual beings" from "other realms".It seems he thinks nearly everything we have achieved is because of these entities, and not because of our own prowess and imagination.One particular example is with DNA, and that "aliens" might have encoded all knowledge inside "junk DNA", and that only 1% of our DNA is actually useful.I think this may be more akin to the myth that we only use 10% of our brain (we use all of our brain, but it may be said we usually are only using 10% of it at a given time).

So it's more likely we just don't understand the entire DNA code, and that there isn't any "junk DNA", it all plays a role, even if minor.We should give ourselves more credit here, and not try to write off all of our accomplishments to "aliens".Just to make things clear, I think psychedelics have played a vital role in our evolution.It's just a little offputting to write off our progress to other sentient beings.

Furthermore, it seems contradictory to propose that:
A) Hallucinogenic experiences are encounters with real entities.
and
B) Hallucinogenic experiences are recordings from our DNA.

You can't have it both ways.Either its A or its B, but not both.Talking to a recording, is not talking to a being, no matter how you slice it.Finally, to think that beings genetically engineered our DNA, then let it loose over a billion years, only to culminate in sentient beings who would then use DMT to read the message in the DNA... do you see how absurd this is?It's like the ULTIMATE GOTCHA CONSPIRACY, one so ludicrously complex, like an impossible plot from a bad movie.If, by some fluke, researchers prove me wrong, and find a secret movie code in our DNA, then I'll stand corrected.It justs seems beyond the realms of even believable fiction.

In spite of this, I highly, highly recommend this book.

Yes, but...
Riveting throughout, yet (not suprisingly) replete with unanswered questions: what exactly are the healing powers and methods discovered by shamans during their otherworldly journeys? Are there specific instances of shamans curing disease? Why is the supposed wisdom gained by those who tune into the other realms bereft of the practical, such as being of use to the residents of the Amazon in keeping their homeland from destruction or, earlier, the San people from extermination? What part do the trances alledgedly gone into by spiritualist mediums play in these doings? Why did thousands of years of psychoactive plant ingestion leave our ancestors exactly where they started, with no apparent progression in their culture? Nevertheless, this--like almost all of Mr Hancock's books--is eminently worthwhile, start to finish.

Something a little different, and well written. A wonderful journey.
This book takes a hard look at the world we live in, from a different angle. It explores the other dimensions that quantum science has shown us to exist, through study of cave art; Shamantic journeying; UFO studies; anthropology and archeology.

There is so much in this book that makes sense to those of us with an open mind and a wonder of "what else is out there". Hancock really takes the thread, follows it, even ties himself to it, and then makes it intoa well structured theory on the unanswered questions of many parts of our current lives.

It is one of those books that you can't put down because you want to see where Hancock is going next. It is an interesting trip around the globe, into other dimensions, onto UFOs, and through time.

Definately a "must read" for the advanced metaphysician, and anyone interested in Shamanism. ... Read more

Book Description
What secrets lie beneath the deep blue sea? Underworld takes you on a remarkable journey to the bottom of the ocean in a thrilling hunt for ancient ruins that have never been found—until now.

In this explosive new work of archaeological detection, bestselling author and renowned explorer Graham Hancock embarks on a captivating underwater voyage to find the ruins of a mythical lost civilization hidden for thousands of years beneath the world’s oceans. Guided by cutting-edge science, innovative computer-mapping techniques, and the latest archaeological scholarship, Hancock examines the mystery at the end of the last Ice Age and delivers astonishing revelations that challenge our long-held views about the existence of a sunken universe built on the ocean floor.

Filled with exhilarating accounts of his own participation in dives off the coast of Japan, as well as in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and the Arabian Sea, we watch as Hancock discovers underwater ruins exactly where the ancient myths say they should be—submerged kingdoms that archaeologists never thought existed. You will be captivated by Underworld, a provocative book that is both a compelling piece of hard evidence for a fascinating forgotten episode in human history and a completely new explanation for the origins of civilization as we know it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

Backs up his alternative history with lots of facts and photos
The photos of underwater dives are what originally interested me in buying the book.Hancock's thorough method of gathering facts to support his version of history are what made me a believer.He inspired me to use my skills in satellite imagery analysis to search for proof from above that civilization is much older than is commonly thought.My search resulted in a book Noah's Ark, Discovering the Science of Man's Oldest Mystery that offers amazing proof that both supports and expands Graham's book.

Long but very important book
I believe this is a far more important book than most people realize. While the author suffers from a lack of editing and brevity, he more than makes up for it in his subject selection and hands-on detective work. I read the entire book and it was a detailed, highly convincing argument that mankind has done a really slipshod job of investigating our history in terms of looking at the oceans of the world.

I thought the photographs in the book were fantastic and my only complaint is that there weren't more of them! Especially interesting were the underwater photos of Yonaguni which I find almost impossible to believe could be natural phenomena. I wish Mr. Hancock had also put together a DVD release of this material as I think that the actual pictures tell a story that the written word itself can hardly match. The author does actually mention the difficulty of underwater photography in the various locations he travels and this is part of the importance of the book; that is, that we need advances in our ability to image places we are investigating in order to tell the story to the public and thereby capture both imagination and funding in order to continue exploring the hidden history of mankind.

Those who gave this book bad reviews are ignoring the fact that, to my knowledge, modern history has absolutely no explanation at all for formations like Yonaguni, if it is indeed man-made. The author's book is, as far as I can tell, one of the only attempts to provide any kind of real explanation for this. Yonaguni is an anomaly whose only other explanation (that it is a natural formation) is almost impossible to believe.

With some additional editing, etc., in a second edition, this book could easily rate five stars. And the subject matter is important enough that it needs to.

Underworld
As Far as I know no one else has informed us about all of these underwater places where people, at one time, lived.As always Handcock makes you think.

Drivel
These books are nonsense. Any books whose titles include any of the words 'mysterious', 'secrets', 'Templar', 'alien', 'code', 'supernatural', 'mythic', 'cosmic', are just giving away the fact that they are unscientific rubbish. They are based on wishes and dreams, but we should all know that children wish, adults decide.

The Clues That Lie Under The Seas
This is a very ambitious and rich journey to sites underwater as author Graham Hancock and wife/photographer Santha Faiia continue their quest in uncovering more clues to a "lost" ancient civilization.

Through a text that makes the reader part of the expedition and outstanding illustrations & photographs, the exploration touches on sites throughout the world, including the Bahamas, Malta, Japan and India.

Hancock again makes a compelling argument for his theory that global floods that brought an end to the Ice Age wiped out a civilization, with the survivors sharing their highly-advanced knowledge with newer ancient societies.

And that the path may lead under the seas makes for a fascinating read. ... Read more

Book Description
In this riveting account of historical and archaeological investigation, the authors present hard evidence that the Sphinx, the Pyramids, and the other monuments at Giza are of far more ancient origin than previously believed. Complete with evidence of a conspiracy between the Egyptology establishment and various confidential organizations to keep the secrets of the Pyramids from the world, The Message of the Sphinx is also a modern-day detective story. of photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (74)

A fine book but another Fingerprints rehash
Several of Graham Hancock's late 1990's books are rehashes of the excellent Fingerprints of the Gods.This one focuses on his Sphinx theories and ended up getting Hancock on numerous History Channel and Discovery Channel specials about the pyramids.His theories about the vast ancient age of the Sphinx has actually garnered some mainstream support, though most Egyptologist won't hear of it.

Hancock always lays out a detailed argument for whatever wacky idea he is tauting.This book's theories, however, may not be so wacky.Hancock is sometimes off the mark with some of his books, but this one makes a compelling case that the Sphinx is far more ancient than the pyramids and may date back to such a remote history that civilizations timeline may have to be reconsidered.

I love Hancock's books, so I went into this one as a fan.Still, I think if this is your first experience with the author it will be a good one.If what you see here interests you, then I highly recommend Fingerprints of the Gods also which originally proposed these ideas.

Fingerprints part 2
Basically this book feels like the Egypt chapters of "Fingerprints of the Gods" slightly expanded with more detail.It isn't as interesting or as terrifying as "Fingerprints" but it is shorter and brings a more specific set of "evidence" to the table.
Bringing up Edgar Cayce weakens the authors' position considerably.Psychic readings, though fascinating, cannot be accepted as evidence in any scientific debate.
The authors beat us over the head with the concept of precession, leaving the reader to gasp out "Okay, I get it!"
Ample quotes from ancient Egyptian texts help to build up a seemingly plausible picture of a sky/earth duality and the construction of the Giza complex as a "model" of the sky around the constellation Orion.Descriptions of the Pyramids and the freakish degree of accuracy in their design seem to indicate that whatever they were built for, it was something very specific and intentional.The orthodox Egyptological view that the Queen's Chamber was "abandoned" unfinished in favor of the King's Chamber just doesn't hold up, in view of the apparent care which was taken by Pyramid architects.This would not have been a construction project that you could make up as you went along.
One problem I had with the authors' theory of a mysterious "Brotherhood of Horus" which had preserved technological and astronomical secrets through the ages from 10,500 bc (supposed date of the "First Time" and the building of the Sphinx) to the Pyramid Age (2500 bc) ... if they were able to sustain their secret society for that length of time, where are they now?Such a "brotherhood" should, conceivably, be robust enough to survive and continue to "manipulate society from behind the scenes" even today.Seems fishy to me, and is another weak point in the authors' presentation.
Their most compelling evidence cited is the unmistakeable signs of water erosion on the body of the Sphinx (also a crucial element from "Fingerprints.")Why do Egyptologists wilfully ignore this clear indication of the actual age of the monument??I'd like to hear the orthodox explanation, which of course is not presented in this book.
One point that is driven home is the notion that modern Egyptology is a religion rather than a science.The "orthodox" view of ancient Egyptian history is based largely on findings made by amateur treasure hunters during the British colonial period a century or more ago.We have much more sophisticated techinques and a better quality of information now at our disposal; why are we clinging to beliefs based on older, less reliable research?In a true science, theories are changed when new data becomes available, but Egyptologists have a tendency to dismiss or ignore any data that challenges what they already believe.There's always value to be found in divergent thinking, even if it is eventually proven wrong.Off the top of my head, I refer to Galileo and Darwin as "divergent thinkers" whose theories (of a heliocentric solar system and of evolution, respectively) were ridiculed at first.
I can understand Egyptologists' professional indignance when confronted with theories from "armchair researchers" who have done no actual fieldwork, and have not devoted their lives to study of Egyptian antiquity.But Hancock and Bauval have come armed with a formidable collection of evidence, much of which consists of FACTS which can be proven (or debunked.)Where is the scholarly rebuttal from thw Egyptological community?It's not enough to dismiss these theories as "ridiculous."Can somebody prove WHY they're ridiculous?It should be easy for an expert to shoot down the so-called "fanciful yarn" presented in this book, but so far I've seen no-one do it.
Meanwhile there are legitimate discoveries to be made at Giza, based on clues found by ACTUAL field work at the site.There's tangible evidence suggesting the presence of still-undiscovered chambers inside the Great Pyramid and under the plateau near the Sphinx.Work on following these leads proceeds frustratingly slowly.Dr. Zahi Hawas jealously guards the area almost as if it was his own personal property ... any "secrets" found there could be of profound importance to all of mankind, but based on some follow-up reading I've done (beyond the scope of this book) I question whether the public will even be told the truth about what, if anything, is discovered.

a most intriguing work
Asking rather more questions than it answers, "The Message of the Sphinx" purports to use geology to prove that the Sphinx is much older than normallysuspected.Also, astronomy is used to show once again that the layout of the Giza plateau represents the sky overhead at the summer solstice in 10,500 BC, which the author theorizes is when the First Time began.Having recently read "The Kybalion," which is a hermetic work supposedly handed down from the Sages discussed in this book, it actually all does sort of fit together - as above so below, as below so above is a mainstay of their system of belief and as such the layout of the Giza plateau and other pyramids in the general area fit the pattern.While I pride myself in not being a credulous person, I found the theories and suppositions put forth by the author to have a strong ring of truth to them - it does make me want to conduct further research and I can feel the frustration in the author that further studies have been so heavily curtailed.

A must-read for anyone interested in Egyptology, ancient civilizations and alternative theories of history.

The Message of the Spinx
Way has it taken so long for anyone to come up with this information.I think for the most part HandCock is right on the subject.

A review of the audiobook by a history teacher
I picked this one up on a whim. Having already read and reviewed Hancock's "Heaven's Mirror" several years ago, I knew what I was getting myself into - lots of alternative, well-researched ideas that cause you to think, "Well...maybe..."

The first half of the audiobook was just that. Questions about the weathering on the Sphinx. Unexplained unwillingness to research into what lies below the Sphinx (is it a cavern? a room? a geologic anomaly?), challenges to the orthodox Egyptology's interpretions.

Lots of good fun and as a history teacher I encourage challenges to Orthodoxy- for example, until fairly recently the Maya were considered to be wise sages of the rain forest who abhorred violence (turns out they readily engaged in human sacrfices all of the time), the Assyrians of Ninevah were considered to be a fantasy of the Bible and the city of Troy?- a figment of Homer's imagination. So, putting pinholes in orthodoxy has its place.

However, Hancock and Bauval lost me when they began to use Edgar Cayce's psychic readings from the 1930s and 1940s as a legitimate source. Star charts and weathering are legitimate sources. Not mediums. Come on!

To make it worse, Hancock and Bauval launch into an extended discourse on the movement of stars across the sky over the cenutires (called procession).While this had a legitimate point, one that Hancock fleshes out even more in his book "Heaven's Mirror," he goes on and on with it to the point where I couldn't hardly stand to listen to it any longer. The reader, Nick Ullett, did a superb job with the material he was asked to read, but there is no way that listening to nearly an hour of facts and figures about star charts and mathematical equations will be anything but mind-numbingly, eye-crossingly, stupifyingly boring. I listen to audiobooks to perk up my long daily commute. I actually had to turn off the relentless march of the equations just to stay awake! Hancock's points were made in the first 15 minutes - yet he continued on and on and on and on and on...

So, this is really two books - the first half is interesting and full of legitimate points. The second half is butressed by facts from the mouth of a psychic and then becomes an endless lecture on procession that should have been edited.

Final grade: D+ ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Talisman is an impressive and worthy composition.
Talisman : Sacred Cities Secret Faith

Though the iconic Statue of Liberty is recognized by many, my decision to read this book rested more with several intriguing questions posed on the back cover. The historical significance of the statue had never previously occurred to me. The question that really hooked me was the one regarding Franklin Roosevelt's commissioning of the glowing pyramid on the one-dollar bill. I have never held a dollar bill, but have wondered about the curious symbolism on British currency.
It is no understatement to say the breadth, depth, and volume of information presented, was at times overwhelming.With a reference section occupying nearly sixty pages, the authors appear to have taken pains to present this work in the light of other works.
Encapsulating this substantial reading and learning experience into a succinct and meaningful review is proving a challenge. One of the many difficulties faced by the authors is illustrated by a passage appearing on page 287 -
~~
The Sacred Cities, Emergence of the invisibles - Before Freemasonry came out - "The origins of Freemasonry are veiled behind such a mass of legends and pseudo-history that the subject has become a nightmare for even the most dedicated of researchers. The problem lies in the fact that today Freemasons define themselves as a `society with secrets' whereas once, and no one actually knows for how long, they were a secret society that went to great lengths to be `invisible'. We've noted before that successful secret societies are by definition, hard to trace in the historical record. "
~~
Talisman explains how historic texts, events, and architecture, reveal compelling evidence of a belief system with ancient origins; that is identifiably manifest in contemporary life.
There is a tendency throughout the book to present a line of reasoning based on an intricate web of historical events. It is my view that the authors conducted considerable research to support and develop their ideas. Whether or not, the conclusions drawn and presented from the research is accurate; is a matter of opinion. Though consistent effort is made to avoid voicing outright opinion; this is inevitable, because opinion does comes through; if not in direct statements; then in the general line of reasoning chosen. As a reader, I admired the author's consistent attempts to justify leading conclusions. I also appreciated the efforts of authors who appear to be deeply knowledgeable; to both educate and inform the readers in a wide range of topics that warrant considerable research and learning individually.
It is no surprise the undertaking took twelve years to complete. Started in 1992 and completed in 2004; the finished article provides a rich source of learning and intrigue for the uninitiated. If you are asking "Uninitiated into what ? ", I would thank you for your question, and refer you to the respective co-author websites for an answer or answers.
For my part as reviewer; may I draw your attention to key phrases at the start and end of the work.
~
At the start - Robert Bauval - "This unusually long period reflects not only the complex nature of the subject matter but also the strong and enduring working relationship and friendship that I have with my co-author Graham Hancock, a master of the trade par excellence. "

At the end - "On 11 September 2001Al Qaeda struck its major direct blow against the `Crusaders'. It may not be the last ..."
~
OK - a number of unsettling facts have come to light since 9/11. Some of these facts are both 100% concrete, and impossible to dispute. Some of them may weaken the case against Al Qaeda. While the full truth, behind the events of 9/11 remain shrouded, and questions remain unanswered; justifiable conclusions may be equally elusive.
Winston Churchill famously said "History is written by the victors". A discussion of "the philosophy of history" can be found in Wikipedia. Interestingly enough; a section detailing "History as propaganda"; paraphrases the quote, and also contains the phrase "par excellence".
If there is any truth in Winston Churchill's quote, could there also be truth in another idea? One that claims "Manuscripts are written or dictated by authors with their own unique perspectives and agendas".
Some readers may feel the validity of this book's final statement is questionable. It appears to directly reveal the sympathies and therefore bias of the author(s).Whether this statement enhances or detracts from the validity of the manuscript as a whole; is debateable.

The reading experience was intermittently engaging and tawdry. That said; in light of the complex nature of the subject matter presented, the work is surprisingly accessible and readable. Overall I found the effort rewarding and informative. I have read work by other authors who are critical of Robert Bauval and Graham Hancock. I guess it is up to researchers of this genre to come to their own conclusions based on wider reading. Whatever the politics of the authors, I am deeply grateful for this introduction to a subject matter that is both complex; and significant in contemporary life today. Thank you for this work! Recommended reading!

TALISMAN is written without knowledge of Esotericism!!!
Hancock and Bauval have done some great work in the past and that can not be denied.However, their reach is into areas of esotericism and literature they have no knowledge of or expertise in disminishes there reputation as serious students of the esoteric science.

The Knight Templars and Cathar question is a case in point.My personal take on the crusade against the Cathars was merely a displacement or force relocation of the masses.

The Knight Templars could not have been heretics if what they believed is precisely what the Church was teaching at the time.Most of the cathedrals of Europe were built by the year 1307.In particular Chartres Cathedral, and Dante Alighieri was well into writing his La Divina Commedia, and two centuries later Michelangelo would used the same mathematical system (Dante used to write his Commedia) to fresco the ceiling and Altar wall of the Sistine Chapel.Incorporated into all these art forms, archetecture, literature, and fresco painting is the same science used to write the sacred scriptures.The very things that are called occult practices are incorporated into these genres of thought.This same belief system is what was believe by the Templars and Cathars.

Those that doubt this argument should read my recently published paper: THE SISTINE CHAPEL: A Study in Celestial Cartograpy (published by the ROSE CROIX JOURNAL June 2006) where it is demonstrated that the Kabbalistic Tree of Life and much of the esoteric science comes directly from the first chapter of Genesis in which the fresco painters of the Sistine Chapel were well aware.This paper without mentioning Hancock or Bauval names destroys their argument in TALISMAN because of the scientific evidence that was marshalled to validate the paper's arguments.

Hancock and Bauval argue that the Templars and Cathar had this esoteric knowledge and that is why they were destroyed.Why would the Church destroy the very organizations that it and the bible's teachings created?That would be insane and ludicrous.This is where Hancock and Bauval fail in their reasoning process.They act as if the Church is totally ignorant of the Esoteric Science and does not use it in their teachings.Both Hancock and Bauval have a very very limited understanding of the Esoteric Science or what it is all about.

For me I believe that for the most part the Knight Templars and the Cathars are merely mythological spiritual stories similar to the legends of the Holy Grail.Yet, these stories have come down to us as if they were actual historical events.Remember that the Church had absolute control over what was historically written.It should be considered that the legends of the Templars, Cathars, Crusades, Holy Grail, La Divina Commedia and other such documents are a rehashing esoterically of the sacred scriptures knowledge of Esotericism.

The hatred that Hancock and Bauval have towards the Catholic Church is quite obvious and evident by the first part of the book - they are without shame in their rhetoric: "A study in Catholic Bashing" should be considered AS A REHEADING for the first section of TALISMAN.

All in all TALISMAN is the worst book these previously VERY GOOD THINKERS and researchers have ever done.

Can I give something a "minus star" rating?
I can't even say the book was entertaining as fiction, it was boring. As non-fiction, it is another poorly researched rehash of the usual Gnostic, Templar nonsense. This "information" has been circling like a vulture since the 1970's, ENOUGH.

Supplies a Missing Piece of "The Puzzle"
For the serious, or just curious, student of "alternative" theories of our Western Cultures history.
Know going in, that the ideas and thories expressed in this book, were published in this book, because they would not be allowed to be taught in accepted, scholastic circle, liberal or conservative.
Whether one ascribes to the Accidental, or Conspiratorial Theories of history, Bauval and Hancock's "Talisman" will give serious pause for thought.
The books major contribution, is the linking, once and for all, with one of our Western Cultures foundation stones of the Talismanic religion practiced by the Ancient Egyptians.
The accepted norm, that Western Culture has only Greco-Roman underpinnings, (put forth by Berlin schools of thought in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries when Berlin, not New York was the World City), have been modified somewhat, correctly, in seeing the vast contributions of those people that the Greeks called the "Keltoi","wanderers",(known to history as the Celts).
From the Militians of Spain, the Gauls of France, (referred to in the New Testament as the Galatians), the Daanan tribe of Ireland, the Welsh, Scythians (Scots), to the Danes and Vikings these people, bloodied but unbowed by Rome,form a foundation stone as well as the Greeks and Romans, obvious now, though hidden for centuries.
What the reader interested in history will find out in "Talisman" is, that the last foundation stone stands revealed, as Egypt.
Whether or not Egypt's culture can be found to be based on an earlier one is not for this review, or Hancock and Bauval's book.
Egypt, seen in Biblical history, and Biblical typology as representing raw, idolotrous, worldly culture, at odds with the "God of the Bible" and His designs for human destiny, in "Talisman" is seen for what it may really be. The real forcebehind the millenia old "culture war" that Jews and Christians have been supposedly fighting.
Lastly, this book, if true, as it purports to be, lays to rest the reactionary and revisionist view held by the Christian Coalition, that our countries origin is Evangelical. Talisman correctly tells us that it is Masonic, at best, and Gnostic at worst.

An Investigative Triumph!
This is yet another brilliant journey of discovery in the company of Hancock and Bauval. After a lot of historical background the authors bring to light the Egyptian roots in the design (or wished for design) of cities such as Paris and London. The esoteric idea behind this is that the cities will become transmitters of (Divine)energy in the world and provoke wisdom in humanity in the same fundamental way that the ancient Egyptians once did through their temples or pyramids. The first example of the attempt to draw on the ancient Egyptian influence was Alexander the Great and his founding of Alexandria. A later example is Christopher Wren in London. The main historical themes which the authors focus are the Dualism of Gnostics, Cathars on the one hand and the Hermeticism of the Renaissance on the other, with idealists such as Tomasso Campanella and Athanasius Kircher being two important players. The Masons (or Freemasons) base their rituals on the rebuilding of Solomon's ancient temple (esoterically, rebuilding the temple represents cultivating oneself spiritually) and this is shown to be incorporated in the way planners and architects have thought in terms of city design. ... Read more

Book Description
The fact of the Lost Ark of the Covenant is one of the grant historical mysteries of all time. To believers, the Ark is the legendary vesel holding the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. The Bible contains hundreds of references to the Ark's power to level mountains, destroy armies, and lay waste to cities. The Ark itself, however, mysteriously disappears from recorded history sometime after the building of the Temple of Solomon.

After ten years of searching through the dusty archives of Europe and the Middle East, as well as braving the real-life dangers of a bloody civil war in Ethiopia, Graham Hancock has succeeded where scores of others have failed. This intrepid journalist has tracked down the true story behind the myths and legends -- revealing where the Ark is today, how it got there, and why it remains hidden.

Part fascinating scholarship and part entertaining adventure yarn, tying together some of the most intriguing tales of all time -- from the Knights Templar and Prester John to Parsival and the Holy Grail -- this book will appeal to anyone fascinated by the revelation of hidden truths, the discovery of secret mysteries.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (79)

Forget about Indiana Jones - this is better than that
An excellent book, very well-sourced. I was gratified to see Hancock citing evidence/clues/references from a very wide selection: scholarly papers, published Freemason lore, Arthurian grail lore, the Biblical account, Jewish lore, Josephus, interviews with scholars and experts, etc. You have to give the man credit for backing up his theories with evidence.

I am less comfortable with his section on what the Ark was. As he disallows that it manifested the power of God, he suggests magic or lost ancient engineering knowledge instead. Frankly, I find the Biblical account more believable. But this section takes away but a little from the overall enjoyment I've gotten from this work.

Prior to reading this I knew nothing about the history and spirituality of Ethiopia; I now feel better versed in it.

I have read a review that because the author wasn't allowed to see the Ark in the St. Mary Church in Axum, this work is diminished. What could he do, save attempt to break in? This would instantly take him out of the field of historical researcher and into the realm of crackpot. So, no, the book isn't diminished simply because the work is open-ended.

Well worth reading. It pushes pop culture and Indiana Jones far to the back of your head.

Inspiring adventure
Following the trail of the mystery was almost as exciting as reading the The Da Vinci Code and knowing it was a real story made it inspiring.Although the ending in Brown's book was more satisfying than in this one, the search for facts to support his theory did inspire me to write my own detective style historical book Noah's Ark, Discovering the Science of Man's Oldest Mystery.So thanks for the information concerning the Falasha Jews and opening my eyes to an exciting style of investigative history writing.

~~~~~~~~~Just But It~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Graham Hancock is a master at storytelling and this is non-fiction to boot. If you're an Indiana Jones fan or a fan in general of religious artifacts and their extraordinary powers, then this is definately one book you don't want to miss. At least in Indy is/was fictional, made up, and good. Here Mr. Hancock weaves the non-fiction in a adventurous way, so you feel like you are actually there with him doing the research. Let me tell you, I am a believer! If the vatican doesn't have it, then this is definately where the ark is!

I am glad someone wrote this
The authors search for the Lost Ark of the Covenant often puts him at odds with the scientific and religious establishment. The phrase "In for a penny, In for a pound" has never been more apt.There are many things in the bible and ancient history that just don't add up and most people are afraid to cite the obvious. The author fearlessly goes where most researchers are afraid to go.
It is certain that the Old Testament is a chronical of amazing events. These stories were already ancient history when the bible was compiled. I agree with the author that there was a civilization that had attained a sophisticated level of technology, the remnants of which, are responsible for the sudden appearance of the roots of civilization as we know it

I disagree with the reviewer who calls this type of inquiry silly.it is important to have an open mind and to risk being ridiculed to get at the truth.

Sign and the Seal
I think Hancock found the Lost Ark and how it arrived in Africa ... Read more

Book Description
The bestselling author of The Sign and the Seal reveals the true origins of civilization. Connecting puzzling clues scattered throughout the world, Hancock discovers compelling evidence of a technologically and culturally advanced civilization that was destroyed and obliterated from human memory. Four 8-page photo inserts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (254)

True or not, it's a great book
It doesn't really matter if you believe in the lost civilization of Graham Hancock, the theories he lays down in this book are impressive never-the-less.The idea that there was an advanced civilization in pre-history on which many of the great early civilizations drew influence is a plausible one and Hancock offers a number of theories about who they were and what happened to them.

There is a lot of science in this book and, at times, it's a little hard to digest.This book is strongest, however, in weaving together the similarities in the mythsand monuments of great cultures and purposing the idea that they evolved from a common source.

Whether you ultimately agree with Hancock's conclusions or not, readersof this book will be introduced to some interesting possibilities.This was my first book by Hancock and remains my favorite.

Well Research, Excellent Read
A journey to an acient system of worship and the builders of a pre-deluvian world wanting to leave the message of how to avoid the same mistakes and how to understand the effects of precession on the civilations of Mother Earth.

His best work.

ENJOYABLE READ
Graham Hancock's Fingerprints of the Gods is an interesting book as long as the reader takes it as theory and not gospel truth.
Hancock essentially makes an ascertation that an older unknown society is the link that led to human advancement in different areas of the world.
Where is that older advanced society?His first interesting claim is that at one time, the Antarctic land mass was actually much further north and having a temperate climate as recent as 10,000 BC.Is this the fabled Atlantis that Plato wrote about?
According to Hancock, this is what led to dispersal of humanity.It would be much easier to migrate from a centralized continent to South America, Africa, allowing people to migrate north.
Of course, this goes against conventional thinking, which assumes the migration of the Americas spread south.It also defies the conventional wisdom that all life actually spread from Africa.
He also analyzes the different religions of the world, going back further than most historians.He looks at the Myan Popol Vuh which also speaks of a great flood, and a god-like creature that created and resurrected creation.Even old Norse legends have a worldwide flood comparable to the Christian, Jewish, and Summerian account in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
I admit, to me that was the most interesting part of the book.
The part that bored me was the mathematical analysis of longitude and latitude.Yes, I like studying grids on a man, but Hancock got so precise it seemed he was writing for a mathematician.
His ideas, although interesting, are mere theory and far from being proven.While he gives food for thought, there is no preponderance of evidence.
Of course, the book's greatest weakness is also its strength.It might get the historian thinking, but just don't take the theory too seriously.

Hancock lacks insight and knowledge.
The topics covered in the book are nothing new - who built the Great Pyramid and how, pyramids and huge stone monuments in South America, Hapgood's theory of shifting of earth crust, etc. They have been covered before, and covered more effectively.

What's most unfortunate about this rehash is that Mr. Hancock does not seem to possess enough technical or scientific knowledge to speculate and ask intelligent questions on any of the things he sees on his extensive (must have been expensive, too) trips. All he does is to repeat what's been speculated in the past, without offering any new perspective. When he muses about ancient myths, he doesn't offer any poetic inspiration either, the way Joseph Campbell did. It's plain that he is indeed interested in these topics, but if you look for his answers to these enigmas, there is none. The whole thing should have been a travelogue, nothing more.

Time to Review Your Ideas of History
With his well researched book, Hancock challenges the dogma of our everyday belief in western concepts of Victorian age history and science. An important read. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Mars holds a special fascination for us, because it is the most Earth-like planet we've yet encountered. As we continue to explore the red planet, geological evidence mounts that long ago water flowed freely across its surface, begging the question: If there was water, was there life? Graham Hancock thinks so. In fact, Hancock, a former journalist and the author of several books, including Fingerprints of the Gods, believes that certain formations on the Martian surface are the remnants of an ancient civilization--one strikingly similar to ancient Egypt--that was destroyed by a cataclysmic deep impact. Further, Hancock claims that NASA's reluctance to give credence to "The Face," "The Pyramids," and other things people see in images of the Martian surface is evidence that the U.S. space agency is motivated by cold war paranoia and mistrust. Hancock seems to be more fair-minded than many NASA critics, stating that, "what we see is a mindset, here, not a conspiracy." And indeed, one is hard-pressed to imagine why NASA isn't agreeing wholeheartedly with Hancock, since his ultimate point is that we should be paying more attention to our planetary neighbors and the skies above, lest we suffer the same fate as the Martians. Hancock raises many intriguing questions in this synthesis of unorthodox Mars theory, but those looking for applications of Ockham's razor had best search elsewhere--Hancock's theories require a leap of faith as surely as NASA's do. --Therese LittletonBook Description
An asteroid transformed Mars from a lush planet with rivers and oceans into a bleak and icy hell. Is Earth condemned to the same fate, or can we protect ourselves and our planet from extinction?

In his most riveting and revealing book yet, Graham Hancock examines the evidence that the barren Red Planet was once home to a lush environment of flowing rivers, lakes, and oceans. Could Mars have sustained life and civilization?

Megaliths found on the parched shores of Cydonia, a former Martian ocean, mirror the geometrical conventions of the pyramids at Egypt's Giza necropolis. Especially startling is a Sphinx-like structure depicting a face with distinguishable diadem, teeth, mouth and an Egyptian-style headdress. Might there be a connection between the structures of Egypt and those of Mars? Why does NASA continue to dismiss these remarkable anomalies as "a trick of light"? Hancock points to the intriguing possibility that ancient Martian civilization is communicating with us through the remarkable structures it left behind.

In exploring the possible traces left by the Martian civilization and the cosmic cataclysm that may have ended it, The Mars Mystery is both an illumination of our ancient past and a warning--that we still have time to heed--about our ultimate fate. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (53)

There is a Mystery on Mars
For centuries, humanity has wondered about our near neighbour in the solar system. From authors to scientists to laymen, the planet Mars has long been a source of wonder and interest. Could there be life there? This book is one of the more recent attempts to argue for the prospects of life on Mars, albeit in the distant past. While this is not a great book in the classical sense- its themes hop around quite a bit, incorporating many seemingly unrelated ideas- it is an essential source of information that the mainstream has either tried to surpress for ages or just simply didn't know about- hence the indignation of some critics of the work.
What makes it credible for me is the authors' incorporation of scientific data and geometric measurements that lend credence to their claims of a global catastrophe on Mars at a time when it had an advanced civilisation. Had they stuck to this theme throughout and developed it a bit further, I would have given the work 5 stars instead of 4. Nevertheless, I feel that the authors have touched upon a reality that is now being revealed too slowly and a little too painfully: that we are not and have never really been alone.

surprisingly enlightening!
You could read the title as "A warning from history that could save life on earth" or you could read the book and justify that it should have read "A rambling from conspirators that could ignite paranoia on earth."

Joke beside, this was actually very enlightening. I just thought it's be some crackpot ideas about Mars. I was 95% sold on the idea when they got into the mathmatics, which match those of ancient earth monuments. Reading that part alone sent me into shivers with a wide-eyed gaze. The second part which grabbed me was the section on camets and astroids. The truth is straight told and this alone will leave you wide-eyed. Getting into the speculation will just send your eyes drooping from their sockets.

So, the mathmatics and the comets were the best parts of the book. The rest was just filler - getting from one point to another.

The Mars Mystery
This book is right on the subject for me.Could this be true???? I think so

Mars: A Part of the Human saga?
This is among the earlier of Graham Hancock's remarkable series of books on unknown Human History. It concerns a possible connection in the ancient human past between Earth and Mars, which the writer postulates hosted a Human civilisation before it got destroyed in a cataclysm caused by a cometary or asteriod impact. Either there was a sister civilisation on Earth, or the remnants from the Martian one escaped and came here to start afresh, and thus Ancient Egypt was where they "unloaded" their legacy. He dated Ancient Egypt's legacy as belonging far back in the hidden mists of millenia untold, linking it to this Martian civilisation, instead of its "official" starting date of circa 3100 BCE. The "story" therefore is remarkable and astounding. But Hancock, in this book, also deliberately deconstructs his previous, equally remarkable and plausible ice-age theory for the destruction of such an ancient technological global, antediluvian civilisation for which he cites the theories of Charles Hapgood and others, and for which overwhelming evidence otherwise exists, transcending interdisciplinary boundaries. This theory was based on the Earth's cyclical axial precession as well as the related possibility of its crust shifting catastrophically, and was at the core of his "debut" book, "Fingerprints of the Gods". His new asteroid-impact theory is as equally as forceful as the axis-shift one he replaces, and such abrupt changes of view could cause doubt in the minds of his readers, even those with superior intellects and education who could reconcile both these aspects of view. He does touch upon this disparity of his on P.254 of the book, but cursorily and briefly.
He treats the example of the present day scarred and desolate planet Mars as a warning for what could happen to our present "high" civilisation now populating Earth. Elsewhere, he also speculates on a conspiracy by the powers-that-be to conceal what happened to Mars - and therefore Mankind's actual history - so as to be able to control their societies, which might otherwise become restive and panick stricken in the face of such knowledge and eventualities. After all, the elites are mature and powerful enough to be able to contemplate awful disasters coolly and in the face - which an ordinary Tom, Dick and Harry can't otherwise even think of, let alone bear! In the last chapter of this book titled "Dark Star", he writes mournfully to the effect that just as humanity seems to be lifting itself to superior levels of cultural, technological and spiritual expression, along comes a global cataclysm forcing them back to square one: to begin as mountain shepherds and hunters all over again, carrying with them the tales of lost Golden Ages of science and culture. This forces him to contemplate mournfully, along Gnostic lines, as to whether God is indeed all-good and love as the "classic" scriptures would have one believe - or whether "He" is a Duality: Evil as well as Good. He then supplies the answers, and so do his other excellent books which I recommend to Amazon readers, "The Lords of Poverty" and "Journey Through Pakistan". The influence of devilish forces aside, it seems we ourselves become The Devil when our lofty achievements get overtaken and harnessed to base desires and consumeristic greed, leading inevitably to some kind of disaster... That is evident right now, in this most critical time recorded Human history has ever known.

Good.Not Great.Just good.
I enjoyed this book.I had some problems with some of the odd logic he used in some areas, but I'd still favor this book as a good read.His "Sign and the Seal" book was far better. ... Read more

Amazon.com
It could be true! That's the enthusiasm that author and scholar-mystic Graham Hancock counts on--in himself and in his readers--as he lays down his theories of an ancient (Atlantean, perhaps?) civilization that disseminated a sophisticated religion of ground-sky dualism and a "science" of immortality. Hancock's previous work, including the popular and controversial Fingerprints of the Gods, has drawn criticism for its leaps of faith and allegedly pseudoscientific conclusions, but Heaven's Mirror proves at least a little more substantial. His chief thesis is that numerous ancient sites and monuments--the pyramids of Mexico and Egypt, the ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the monuments of Yonaguni in the Pacific, and the megaliths of Peru and Bolivia--are situated in such a way, geodetically, that they point towards some separate and uniform influence, some lost civilization or "invisible college" of astronomer-priests. And that civilization, as evidenced in the mathematics and architecture of the sites, points towards some gnosis, or body of knowledge, that would allow humanity to transcend the trap of mortality, a worldview in which the knowledge-giving serpent of Eden is not a villain but a hero.

Whatever you think of Hancock's ideas and theoretical musings in archaeo-astronomy, Heaven's Mirror is a gorgeous book, thanks to the photography of Santha Faiia. Lush, evocative photos of the monoliths on Easter Island and temples deep in the Cambodian jungle are enough to set the mind to introspective wandering--maybe, just maybe, Hancock's got it right after all. --Paul HughesBook Description
In Heaven's Mirror, author Graham Hancock continues the quest begun in his international best-seller Fingerprints of the Gods: to rediscover the hidden legacy of mankind and to reveal that "ancient" cultures were, in fact, the heirs to a far older forgotten civilization and the inheritors of its archaic, mystical wisdom.

Working with photographer Santha Faiia, Hancock traces a network of sacred sites around the globe on a spectacular voyage of discovery that takes us from the pyramids and temples of ancient Egypt to the enigmatic statues of Easter Island, from the haunting ruins of pre-Columbian America to the splendors of Angkor Wat. It is a journey through myth, magic, and astounding archaeological revelations that forces us to rethink the cultures of our lost ancestors and the origins of civilization.

The first fully illustrated book by Graham Hancock, Heaven's Mirror is a stunning and illuminating tour of the spirituality of the ancients--a search for a secret recorded in the very foundations of the holiest sites of antiquity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (54)

Fingerprints of the Gods redux
This book is essentially a poor rehash of Fingerprints of the Gods with better pictures.If you are really interested in Hancock's theory of a common knowledge source for ancient civilizations, you will probably enjoy Fingerprints of the Gods better.However, the pictures and overall presentation of this book is far better.If you found Fingerprints too difficult to get through, but liked the premise, then perhaps this book would be a better choice for you.

Alternate theory of spiritual development compellingly written
While I will reserve judgment on the factual merits of this book, it engaged me in a way few books do; I took extensive notes while reading it and plan to do additional research into some of the statements made.

Hancock travels the world, exploring the ancient religions and traditions of several disparate cultures, only to find shocking similarities, especially when combined with an astronomical background.

A fascinating, must-read for anyone exploring our distant past, interested in alternate spirituality or just curious about whatever crosses their hands.

Good summary --reffer book.
I have this book in my native language. But it does not matter. One time my friend let me borrow it from him, i read it really fast (only at home, cause he won't harm the book at all) For me it was like looking to "factography" about the interesting areas, complexes, chambers, pyramids and so on. Some of the facts were already presented by Discovery and NationalGeography channels (Orion mystery document) I was looking forward this document, but with no luck. So this really suprise me, that there are same volume of facts and even more. If you are new in this type of books (2012, prophecies, ancient civs; ...and so on.) It is good start to take this book. Also there is combo with "Fingerprints of Gods" Style of authors are easy to read, few drawings/figures are also there, so imaging of facts is easier.
Some other scholars reffer to this book and this book refer to some others. Like it is usuall. But i recommend to read few of them and collect the facts/myths by own selves. John Major Jenkins's books for instance are also good ones to make bigger picture.
You can use "google earth" and some other software to simulate some viewings mentioned in the book, prety exiting, really.
So finally i found this book in our book store and bought it. Read it again (with my comments written in the book, some notices and i use it as reffer book) I am not happy that this book has brother (fingerprints of gods) and it is not translated to my language.
Nevermind i learn little bit more so English books are no longer problematic for me. So thank to Amazon i got the Graham's combo book :))
I am not going to confirm or be against the facts mentioned in this book. It is up to reader to valuate the facts not me. I already did and i found it generally usefull. But none is perfect so be sure you valuate the facts across the books/documents/your own research.
I think it is not wasting of money to buy this book.
-keep it readin'-
cheers
-vh-

Mirror, Mirror on the Floor...
"Heavens Mirror" is a lush book of alternative ancient history from Graham Hancock, author of "Fingerprints of the Gods", a book I really enjoyed. Though I definitely did find it interesting, it left me with a bad taste in the mouth after I read it, if that makes sense.

Graham Hancock believes that long ago there was a civilization as sophisticated and thoughtful as ours, wiped out by the last ice age (around 10,500 BC), and whose influence can be seen in cultures round the world. He put forward this theory in his book "Fingerprints of the Gods", a well presented, heavily researched book. Graham is still writing about this lost culture, but rather than focusing on it's apparent influence like he did in "Fingerprints", he focuses on their beliefs and rituals. He finds a lot of things in common between certain cultures of the world. There's the idea of a "navel of the world", the idea of an afterlife world in the sky, references to the procession of the equinoxes, temples and structures in the form of certain constellations. Jumping from continent to continent, he tries to piece things together, hopefully coming to a conclusion.

First of all, I must say, this is a well presented book, just like "Fingerprints of the Gods". Hancock's wife, Santha Faiia, provided the photography, and there are some fantastic shots of famous ancient monuments, taken from angles and distances I have never seen before. It's almost as if you are there. They were a treat to look at, and she rightfully gets co-authorship of the book because of it. There are diagrams, which really, REALLY helped with the astronomical and mathematical elements. The content of the book, the studies on ancient beliefs, was also fascinating to read.

That's not to say this is a book without flaws. Graham doesn't seem to know who he is writing to here, newcomers to his books or old regulars. Sometimes he assumes we've read his books, and other times he repeats himself. He repeats himself in a few ways, actually. He'll make the same point a couple of times, which I found a little bit annoying, and it caused my eyes to wander from the page more than once. He seems a little more intense in his writing that he does in "Fingerprints of the Gods" too, and I can't say it's the most inviting feel to have. Plus, there are hardly as many references as his last books.

I felt a little bit uneasy reading this book, and I couldn't quite put a finger on why. It started when I noticed Graham Hancock was using the word "initiate" frequently when talking about the ancient learned people. The last alternative history book I read that used the word "initiate" frequently descended into obsessive nonsense very quickly, and was almost impossible to comprehend (let alone believe or consider). "What was Graham getting at here?" I thought. I got a little more uncomfortable when he started throwing the the words "gnosis" and "gnostic", and started mixing beliefs together.

Graham had been making all these links, pointing out these common factors, but not really stopping to explain why. The conclusion, when he finally got to it, came as something as a shock, though I felt it coming. He claims to believe that the ancient people were onto something in their rituals. He quotes gnostic gospels of the Christian era as if they were not only correct, but influenced by this ten thousand year old culture he claims existed. Then, came this sentence, wedged within the final paragraph:

"Modern religions, like modern science, have let us down, offering us no nourishment or guidance. Perhaps our only hope ... [is] when certain ideas come to life again, and we should not deprive our grandchildren of a last chance at the heritage of the highest are farthest-off times"

That says it all about why I felt so uneasy about the book, I think. Rejecting basically everyone in favor of his mish mash of ancient beliefs. It's one thing to say that civilizations have things in common, it's quite another to say that they have the answers for the future, if you know what I mean.

It was a very interesting look at ancient cultures, I do agree, very well presented with some fantastic pictures. That's the reason I give it four stars. Graham Hancock's conclusions, however, are rather worrying. I hope he doesn't get too sucked into these kind of theories.

Hangcock is certainly onto something amazing
This book is an amazing watch and read. His chapter about the Angkor Thom Temple in Cambodia seems to be the key issue inside his theory.

John Martin reported about that the following: "Hancock and his wife travel around the world and try to tie a lot of historical sites together with magic numbers (72 being the most prevalent but any even number being almost as good.) The problem I had was that the linking of the monuments to stars degrades as the book moves along. The link is clear in Egypt, possibly present in Mexico, requires squinting in Cambodia, and then devolves to a lot of "as ifs" and "rough alignments"."

Well now, things certainly have changed as in 2001 a new Temple object was found inside China ate the same horizontal geographical coordinate as Angkor:

http://www.china.org.cn/english/2001/Jun/13970.htm
"a group of ancient buildings was in an area of 2.4 square km at the bottom of Fuxian Lake in southwest China's Yunnan Province."

De geographical width of this location is 103o E. Which is exactly 72o east of the pyramids of Giza. Hence at exactly the same geographical width as the Angkor Thom Temple in Cambodia. This object was built in the 12th century A.C. To be exact in the year 1150 A.C

Conspiracy theory : Because the Fuxian temples (lets call em this way) are 2200 years old, they are much older as the Angkor Temples. So it could be that the City in the Fuxian Lake indeed is the lost City of Atlantis. The Cambodians built Angkor Thom much later and with these Temples took over the function of the Fuxian Lake temples. It's known that the Angkor temples didn't emit much good vibes. Hangcock writes in his book about this the following : " In the last decades there have been moments where Angkor looked like the heart of darkness - its located in the middle of a dark forest where obscure dark things have happened." Angkor Thom is oriented to the constellation of Draco or 'snake'. So dark forces could have sunk the Fuxia City and caused the rise of a replacing object, Angkor Thom. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (16)

Fascinating if one sided-a must read for all development workers. Unfortunately outdated
Disclosure time- I work in the aid industry.

While I agree with much of what Hancock has to say (see below), this book is somewhat one-sided.Aid can reasonably claim a share in some positive world developments, such as rising life expectancy rates, decreased infant mortality, increase in primary education and literacy, growth in per capita GDP, and others.Undoubtedly, success has been patchy, and some areas, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, are worse off than they were fifty years ago, before the advent of the international aid industry.But in detailing its extensive failures, one should not completely ignore its successes (even if they maybe much less than what the aid industry claims).

With all that being said, I think a book of this sort is a must read for all aid workers, to bring us face to face with dark side of our work.

Here is a list of criticisms Hancock has about the international aid industry, and my own impressions.

1. International aid is a big bureaucracy more intent on keeping itself going than helping the poor.

My response- true- International aid is a huge bureaucracy.I spend my time writing and reading memos, and trying to get them 'cleared' as fast as possible.I literally spend no time with the poor.

2. International aid agencies spend money on big, wasteful projects that harm the poor and decimate indigenous societies.

My response: True depending on the development agency/country mission.Agencies (and agency sub-divisions, such as country missions) with lots of funds go this route.The ones that don't have such large accounts hire 'technical experts' instead.

3. Aid agencies hire expensive foreign 'technical experts' who lack local expertise; they bypass the concerns and wisdom of the local population.

True to a large extent.Most experts do not even speak the language of those they are trying to help.Some of our experts do supposedly meet with the local population, and address them through means such as surveys, interviews and 'focus group discussions.'I have no idea how hard they really try, as I sit in the office writing and reading memos.In either case, nothing really innovative comes from these efforts.This is because these experts already have blanket solutions (which are the same throughout the world) and try to impose them on the local populace through 'behavior change and communication' and other similar methods.Thus, the surveys and interviews, to the extent they take place at all, are not really a means to partner with the local people; rather, they are means to learn about the 'barriers' to implementation of blanket solutions.

4.International aid is actually a means for subsidizing western businesses.

Undoubtedly true.As Hancock points out, this is one reason why development agencies go for big projects, and why they hire 'foreign experts.'If I am not spending my time writing and reading memos I am spending my time reading project proposals for my development agency's money.Most of these, of course, come from Western businesses and NGOs.I also spend my time enforcing or waiving regulations stating that organizations that receive our money can only buy goods (including but certainly not limited to automobiles and pharmaceuticals) produced in my nation.

5.International aid has allowed wicked despots to make themselves richer, and allowed ruling thugs to escape responsibility.

True- but I think there has been somewhat more of an emphasis today on funding being tied to concepts such as 'good governance,' controlling corruption, and so on, at least in theory.Of course, reality is sometimes different, in that nations of 'strategic importance' get large amounts of funds despite poor governance, incredible corruption and other failures.

5. Development workers are lazy and mediocre.They are often under-educated, make lots of money, live in big houses, have conferences in the best hotels and eat gourmet cuisine.

Partly true. Most of the aid workers in my particular aid agency are highly educated- the minimum entry requirement is a master's degree, and many of us have PhDs or the equivalent.Our base salary is not very impressive compared to others of a similar educational background- certainly many of us could make much more outside of the official aid industry.That being said, the fringe benefits are quite lavish- one may even say over the top: I admit that I am a single woman living in a large 3-bedroom manor, I attend conferences at ritzy hotels and dine on great food- in an impoverished third world country, all at government, or should I say tax payer, expense.

So, the aid industry has gone seriously wrong- what can we do about it?Unfortunately, while Hancock goes into great depths about the problems of aid, he gives us very few solutions.He believes we should dismantle the aid industry- but then what?How can we as citizens of our planet help our world become a better place?Some possible solutions suggested themselves to me when reading the book- one wonders why Hancock decided not to write an extra chapter with ideas such as these:

1.Clarify and purify intentions.As Hancock points out, the mixed intentions of the aid industry (help the poor AND aid western businesses AND further political interests AND AND AND...) is responsible for many of the problems it has caused.

2.Partner with local communities.I mean truly partner with them, listen to their concerns and ideas, and let them take the lead in coming up with solutions. Note, unlike Hancock, I do think there is a place, with careful thought, for some `Western' knowledge and technology.The best solutions maybe ones arrived at through our collective wisdom.However, don't just try to impose blanket solutions through means such as 'behavior change.'

3.Keep things small as much as possible.Some big projects such as large-scale famine relief, refugee assistance, etc, maybe necessary, but these large-scale efforts are much more prone to corruption, and much more often bypass local communities.

4.Speak the local language- this is the only way to effectively partner with local communities.

Finally, as others have pointed out, the book was written in 1989, so its quite dated. While much of what it says still holds true, an updated version offering modern examples of aid failure would be much more powerful.

good points marred by over-the-top rhetoric and no solutions
Hancock makes important points in this book: many aid projects do more harm than good, many aid officials are overpaid, too much aid money gets funneled to US companies (for more on this, see Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, by John Perkins), and publicly funded aid organizations are insufficiently accountable to the public. But his extreme rhetoric warns us that if there is a good side to aid, it certainly won't be represented here. Here's a sample of his accusations: "These lords of poverty are the druids of the modern era wielding enormous power that is accountable to no one."

On the one hand, Hancock's anecdotal evidence is unconvincing. He tells us that his often-chilling anecdotes are representative, but we have no way of really knowing. That said, he provides so many anecdotes that - by the end - we start to feel like they are, if not representative of all aid, at least insightful into an uncomfortable proportion.

But the litany of anecdotes is also tiring. The writing is not particularly great, and I felt that some of the analysis was flawed. (For example, in two places he argues that Western nations don't give nearly enough in aid, but most of the book argues that everything we give is wasted anyway. It's not clear how giving more would help, given his theses.)

Eventually I tired of simply hearing one aid horror story after another. He also misses the fact that there have been some major successes in aid, particularly in the realm of public health, in which organizations like the World Bank and UNICEF have played a part. (To read about some of these successes, look at Millions Saved by Ruth Levine et al.)

I'm glad I read the book, but I wish Hancock had made it a little less exhausting and a little more balanced. I also wish we'd gotten more solutions in the end. His only solution is to dissolve the aid industry (as it is "inherently bad, bad to the bone, and utterly beyond reform"), after which we have the vague promise that "it will become possible for people to rediscover ways to `help' one another directly."

A wonderful account
This sobering account of the truth about aid and the turth about what the 'lords of poverty' are doing to africa is wonderful.Let us first understand the thesis.The new NGOs and those who make their living on aiding 'Africa' are in it for the money and their racist idea that africans cant do anything without the white man has led to disaster in africa.THe one solution to africas problems would be for all the aid workers to leave.Let Africa walk on her own legs.This book tells the dirty details of the how the aid organizations lie to the western public to get massive amounts fo money so they can drive expensive cars and pray on teenage african prositutes and what is worse these aid organizations constitute a new colonization of Africa by the europeans, here we have entire countries who budgets are planned by the IMF and whose food is distributed by the WFO and whose schools are built by NGOs.Where is the African in all this?COlonization is alive and well in Africa and this book exposes it.

Seth J. Frantzman

extremely disappointing
As an open-minded aid worker, I was interested to read about our faults (and there are many, nobody's perfect).
But G.Hancock fails miserably to deliver. I have the same reaction with Michael Moore: I agree with his ideas, want to enajoyhis books, and then am extremley disappointed. A long litany of facts mostly correct, sometimnes distorted to fit the picture, and nothing else. No analysis of reasons why, no consideration of what the other side may have to say, no shades of gray, everything is black. Morevoer there does not seem to be any alternatives. Even conservatives can do better than that.

One example of superficial analysis (page 171):
1- a highway was (poorly) built in Somalia and started failing almost immediately. OK this happens too often
2- Somalia will still be repaying the loan ($100M) after 40 years.
NO: first of all with a soft loan they would pay at most a third of it, second even if the road is failing, the road built may be still worth more than that...
And second of all Somalia's debt was cancelled in the meantime...SO they will not pay anything...

I am not saying building a poor highway is OK, I am saying the the author criticizes in a simplistic manner. His ranting is really useless. I guess it is for non-aid workers, who will conclude that aid is to be stopped completely.

WHAT DOES THE AUTHOR PRPOSE TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF AID ?
Nothing said about that.

NB. One failing among others: why there is no mention of international journalists (such as the author). They also live (fatly) from poverty...

One part fact, one part rant
The first half of this short book is a relatively informative overview of the responsibilities and functions of major aid and development agencies, although the statistics are now well out of date.That said, little of any of this is primary research and the author relies fairly selectively on sensationalistic quotes and facts that tell the part of the story he wants to tell.

The second half of the book, however, is little more than a rant during which the author mocks and insults aid and development workers for about 100 pages.The vitriolic quality of writing makes one wonder if an aid worker dumped him at some point.You could skip this whole part of the book and be better off for it.

Maybe I take it personally since I'm an aid worker, but I can tell you with authority that Mr. Hancock really doesn't have any idea what he's writing about - he mischaracterizes the lives and personalities of most aid workers and oversimplifies the challenges and complexity of the work.He's angry and bitter about something and I don't think it's corruption or incompetence.

And just for the record: Reviewer Viola P. Reyna doesn't have command of the facts either.Most foreign aid workers are required to pay taxes in their home countries while living abroad.Americans living abroad for more than 330 days a year, whether they are aid workers or oil drillers or whatever, are not required to pay taxes unless they make over $80,000.Everyone is still, however, required to report their incomes and file their tax returns.So contrary to what Viola says, the US Government knows exactly what everyone is making. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (16)

Fascinating if one sided-a must read for all development workers. Unfortunately outdated
Disclosure time- I work in the aid industry.

While I agree with much of what Hancock has to say (see below), this book is somewhat one-sided.Aid can reasonably claim a share in some positive world developments, such as rising life expectancy rates, decreased infant mortality, increase in primary education and literacy, growth in per capita GDP, and others.Undoubtedly, success has been patchy, and some areas, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, are worse off than they were fifty years ago, before the advent of the international aid industry.But in detailing its extensive failures, one should not completely ignore its successes (even if they maybe much less than what the aid industry claims).

With all that being said, I think a book of this sort is a must read for all aid workers, to bring us face to face with dark side of our work.

Here is a list of criticisms Hancock has about the international aid industry, and my own impressions.

1. International aid is a big bureaucracy more intent on keeping itself going than helping the poor.

My response- true- International aid is a huge bureaucracy.I spend my time writing and reading memos, and trying to get them 'cleared' as fast as possible.I literally spend no time with the poor.

2. International aid agencies spend money on big, wasteful projects that harm the poor and decimate indigenous societies.

My response: True depending on the development agency/country mission.Agencies (and agency sub-divisions, such as country missions) with lots of funds go this route.The ones that don't have such large accounts hire 'technical experts' instead.

3. Aid agencies hire expensive foreign 'technical experts' who lack local expertise; they bypass the concerns and wisdom of the local population.

True to a large extent.Most experts do not even speak the language of those they are trying to help.Some of our experts do supposedly meet with the local population, and address them through means such as surveys, interviews and 'focus group discussions.'I have no idea how hard they really try, as I sit in the office writing and reading memos.In either case, nothing really innovative comes from these efforts.This is because these experts already have blanket solutions (which are the same throughout the world) and try to impose them on the local populace through 'behavior change and communication' and other similar methods.Thus, the surveys and interviews, to the extent they take place at all, are not really a means to partner with the local people; rather, they are means to learn about the 'barriers' to implementation of blanket solutions.

4.International aid is actually a means for subsidizing western businesses.

Undoubtedly true.As Hancock points out, this is one reason why development agencies go for big projects, and why they hire 'foreign experts.'If I am not spending my time writing and reading memos I am spending my time reading project proposals for my development agency's money.Most of these, of course, come from Western businesses and NGOs.I also spend my time enforcing or waiving regulations stating that organizations that receive our money can only buy goods (including but certainly not limited to automobiles and pharmaceuticals) produced in my nation.

5.International aid has allowed wicked despots to make themselves richer, and allowed ruling thugs to escape responsibility.

True- but I think there has been somewhat more of an emphasis today on funding being tied to concepts such as 'good governance,' controlling corruption, and so on, at least in theory.Of course, reality is sometimes different, in that nations of 'strategic importance' get large amounts of funds despite poor governance, incredible corruption and other failures.

5. Development workers are lazy and mediocre.They are often under-educated, make lots of money, live in big houses, have conferences in the best hotels and eat gourmet cuisine.

Partly true. Most of