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coffeestove's review
4.0
I loved this book when I first read it years ago. I had thought I was picking up a book of pseudoscientific nonsense but was pleasantly surprised when they systematically went through and debunked the wildest theories about some of the worlds great structures and phenomenon while providing some great background on each.
kylearnzen's review
4.0
All in all a fun book. Good for just flipping open and browsing through every now and then. It does a nice job of presenting more than one theory for each mystery, and not trying to tell you 'this is how how it is.' A good thing, since I can't stand conspiracy theorists.
zenithharpink's review
2.0
I really didn't enjoy this book. I was expecting a mildly diverting bathroom reader, and instead got a series of term papers-I felt this had more depth than expected, but it jumped all of the world with "mysteries" that it was incongruous. The relation between mysteries was tenuous at best, and it was just far too much information.
Additionally, the representation of ALL of the viewpoints was also exhausting, and this book basically turned into a slog.
There are better books about the world's mysteries. Don't waste your time with this one.
Additionally, the representation of ALL of the viewpoints was also exhausting, and this book basically turned into a slog.
There are better books about the world's mysteries. Don't waste your time with this one.
crowyhead's review
4.0
This is a fun one! James and Thorpe investigate a wide range of popular mysteries about the ancient world: was there a Great Flood? Was there an Atlantis? How were the pyramids built? Was Robin Hood a real person?
The authors cleverly draw you into the mysteries, outlining various theories and then, just when they've got you almost believing that we're descended from Atlanteans, they pick the whole thing apart. They come down pretty hard on some pseudo-archeaologists, particularly Graham Hancock (author of Fingerprints of the Gods), but not unwarrantedly, and they are also quick to point out when other archaeologists and experts have shortsightedly ignored information that falls out of their area of expertise. Some of this wasn't new, but much of it was, and it made for fascinating reading.
The authors cleverly draw you into the mysteries, outlining various theories and then, just when they've got you almost believing that we're descended from Atlanteans, they pick the whole thing apart. They come down pretty hard on some pseudo-archeaologists, particularly Graham Hancock (author of Fingerprints of the Gods), but not unwarrantedly, and they are also quick to point out when other archaeologists and experts have shortsightedly ignored information that falls out of their area of expertise. Some of this wasn't new, but much of it was, and it made for fascinating reading.
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