• The Secret History of the World

  • By: Jonathan Black
  • Narrated by: Robert Powell
  • Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (145 ratings)

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The Secret History of the World  By  cover art

The Secret History of the World

By: Jonathan Black
Narrated by: Robert Powell
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Publisher's summary

Here, for the first time, is a complete history of the world based on the beliefs and writings of secret societies, researched with the help of an initiate of more than one secret society.

From the occult roots of science to the esoteric motives behind American foreign policy, this fascinating history shows that the basic facts of human existence on this planet can be viewed from many very different angles. And once our viewpoint has been altered, we will see that secret philosophies are encoded everywhere around us - in great art and literature, in the arrangement of the pips in an apple, in the names of the days of the week, even in the very stories we tell our children.

©2007 Quercus Publishing (P)2007 Quercus Publishing
  • Abridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about The Secret History of the World

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Not for beginners

Any additional comments?

There is a large amount of information in this book, but its not for beginners. You already need to have done some study of esoteric subjects before this book will make any sense whatsoever.The author throws a lot of terms around such as say, alchemy, so unless you want to stop and look up each subject as you go, its best to learn some basics first.I really like the audio version of the book, but I am left also now wanting a written reference with footnotes.This does, as the title advertises, give a "secret history of the world", as outlined in esoteric teachings.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

I'm reading the book right now in Spanish, so I'm buying the audio version to have it in English and share... probably way easier to get it through reading than listening but I'm totally loving it. Unites and makes sense of the major phylosophies and spiritualities out there

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

For $10 it's ok.

it's ok. I didn't agree with everything in the book, but when you look at it as "this is what the secret society believes, not necessarily what is true" than its a little easier to stomach.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!!!

What made the experience of listening to The Secret History of the World the most enjoyable?

After listening to the audio version, I went out and bought the book
Great information

What did you like best about this story?

Easy to listen to, very informative

What about Robert Powell’s performance did you like?

Easy to listen to him

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

n?a

Any additional comments?

Excellent--will listen to it again and again

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

A book about everything and nothing

The author is very well spoken and very well read. An hour in the book I was still waiting to get to a point but there was no hope of that.

I found it pointless... maybe I am not sharp enough to get it.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Awful!

Absolute nonsense. I couldn't listen past the first half hour.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Believable

This story makes so much since to me. I appreciate the author and the reader of this piece.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This has become my all time favorite.

...it's an audiobook that I will be listening to many times over. Great for referencing, and rabbit hole diving.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good material, beautifully read, weirdly abridged

I've ordered a print copy of this book because the fascinating material on the audiobook is strangely chopped up and incomplete. it's clear that the abridgement wasn't done very thoughtfully. Kind of a weird listening experience because of this, but the material is extremely tantalizing. I'd consider this audiobook an introduction or Cliff Notes version of what must be in the unabridged book. Publishers, why do your make these choices??

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One Word: PROFOUND

Probably the best "alternative theory" books I've ever read. Really sums up Esoterica studies without getting too much into the weeds.

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