I've been asked this on the radio and feel guilty that I've given glib answers, and now I've been asked on this site – and that deserves a considered answer.
In a way it's an unwelcome question, because the aim of the book is to create a feeling of uncertainty. It's about trying to withhold from rushing to impose conventional beliefs on experience, about waiting for a richer, deeper pattern to emerge.
Critics have been sharply divided between those who get it and those who
don't. I sent an early copy to Gary Lachman, one of the founder members of Blondie,
who now lives and works in
'I like your take it or leave it approach ... Behind the torrent of factoids and believe-it-or-nots there is a serious, philosophical purpose at work. I took away from this book a strong sense that, regardless of how factually 'true' the esoteric account of the world and ourselves may be, it is certainly more 'existentially' true than the reductionist rationalist one.'
Gary, who has studied Gurdjieff, understands the underlying intention.
The Secret History of the World is packed with tall stories, esoteric believe-or-nots and factoids. (Did Norman Mailer coin that word in his book on Marilyn Monroe?). The criterion for inclusion in my book was not necessarily that they could be proved to be true – but that people in esoteric circles have believed them. Some of these people have left written records of their beliefs. In other cases they were things I was told by remarkable people I have met in esoteric circles. These people, both historical and contemporary, tend to be super-intelligent.
As I write in the intro, these stories, these claims would require a whole library to even begin to try to document them and, besides, most are stories about the supernatural, which are not in principle 'provable' on the page.
The point of bringing all these tall stories, these factoids into one book, one narrative is to show that they form a surprisingly unified, coherent, cogent view of the world. They make meaningful patterns in history.
I believe these patterns can be seen in history – and that they wouldn't be there if science explained everything there is.
Towards the end of the book, in the latter part of chapter, I get to the real point of the book. I ask the reader to look at his or her own life and ask if these same patterns can be discerned there too.
I know they can be seen in my own life.
My book's plea is that we should trust to our own personal experience rather than the say-so of experts. We have given too much away in that regard.
I've known many dons, as teachers and as friends, and while I'd trust their judgment in their own fields of research, not all of them are so well-rounded, well-integrated and good-hearted, not all of them have such well developed Higher Selves that I would trust their judgment on life.
hello again.
nealy read all of your book.plenty of more questions wheni have finnished it but for now. i am under the impression of how your book gives a a recipe for the evovlment of the human race. with different thought processes happining at set times guided by zodiacal times, like adding different ingredients to a mixed vegatable soup. at one point carrots then at a different point tomatoes and so forth. working for a end result. could the blueprint for our evolement of come from else where? http://www.grahamhancock.com/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=245489&t=245489
Posted by: michael seabrook | September 21, 2008 at 10:45 PM
writing up questions from your book. will post them by wkend. but for now any thoughts on the above question?
Posted by: michael seabrook | September 24, 2008 at 10:41 AM
another bit i ment to mention
Through out history certain sites have been regarded as portals for spirits. Cracks in the normal fabric of ofthe space time continuum
Faries by janet bord
Stone circles, standing stones and berial mounds are thought to be naturally charged with physical forces
It shows the rocks used by the aincents to build these sites was important. Quartz is often seen at such sites. Its peuszo electric properties have caused researchers into earth energies to wonder if it was chosen for its special qualities. Perhaps its ability to assist those performing rituals to enter into another dimension of being.
Posted by: michael seabrook | October 28, 2008 at 10:16 PM
just realised i cant put up response to book as to large. have you got a email addres i can send it too?
Posted by: michael seabrook | October 28, 2008 at 10:27 PM
I'm not sure whether you'll pick this up as it's an old thread but it seemed the best place to put it.
In the book you spoke about an esoteric belief of the creation of the Universe and the first battle between Saturn and Gaia that the Sun had to intervene in in order to defeat Saturn.
I was curious where in your research you came across this/where I could go to find out more about it as it is an area I would very much like to look into further.
Posted by: Vincent Wadsworth | June 22, 2010 at 09:00 AM
I have a question, when you say in your book that ideas and imagination are not fantasy but reality itself, you mean that the imaginary friends of childhood are real?
Posted by: Francisco | November 07, 2010 at 06:36 AM
hello
in your book secret history, you say how humans are being influenced by stars, and how we are all being guided and effected by asteral alignments. moving thru different cycles evey 2,100 years.
in serpent of light by drunvalo melchizedek he says earth is carbon and silicon, the effect of solar flares caused by planet alignment, vibrating thru earth effecting humans, could these solar waves vibrating thru earth open the eye chakra
Posted by: [email protected] | March 31, 2011 at 10:46 PM