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The Secret History of the World

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The Secret History of the World

By: Jonathan Black
Narrated by: Paul Matthews
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Here for the first time is a complete history of the world, from the beginning of time to the present day, based on the beliefs and writings of the secret societies. From the esoteric account of the evolution of the species to the occult roots of science, from the secrets of the Flood to the esoteric motives behind American foreign policy, here is a narrative history that shows the basic facts of human existence on this planet can be viewed from a very different angle. Everything in this history is upside down, inside out and the other way around. At the heart of The Secret History of the World is the belief that we can reach an altered state of consciousness in which we can see things about the way the world works that are hidden from us in our everyday, commonsensical consciousness. This history shows that by using secret techniques, people such as Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton and George Washington have worked themselves into this altered state - and been able to access supernatural levels of intelligence. There have been many books on the subject, but, extraordinarily, no-one has really listened to what the secret societies themselves say. The author has been helped in his researches by his friendship with a man who is an initiate of more than one secret society, and in one case an initiate of the highest level. Social Sciences World Middle Ages Paranormal Ancient History Fantasy
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Why don't the chapters line up? it makes it very difficult to navigate the book, you can't select a topic and press play. very weird!

Difficult to navigate

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Love this book. It has opened my eyes to a new perspective on history and of many of the less discussed influences on the world.

Eye opening

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Loved every second of this book. Ive learned so much and whilst it might be a bit 'out there' for some, personally it really speaks to my view of the world and I'm grateful for the research by the author in this Informative book

Fantastic book just listened for second time

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Jonathan Black, a pseudonym, tells a vast range of stories from the myths and ancient esoteric traditions as well as history that doesn’t reach popular culture. He correlates and connects them and often indicates their meaning.

He clearly conveys that there is another way of understanding history and ourselves. This other way is as he describes it a kind of upside down miracle. It is present civilisation living in a mirage not the past.

I call it teasing because despite the many connections he makes, he frequently does not indicate the real meaning. Take for example his description of Gilgamesh diving below the surface of the water to recover a specific plant that is the secret of life which is then stolen from him by a snake when he falls asleep on the shore. This is one of those stories that is so easily reified by the reader or listener. They think that something like this really happened, that it is describing an actual material event. That there was a Sage who knew of a specific plant, but Black is asking the reader to think.

He rightly described how the human life body, which he caused the plant or vegetable body, is connected to pure thinking and a certain type of consciousness. It is also associated with water. So to dive into the water to retrieve a special plant is to is to achieve spiritual concept and insight. It is the tale of an initiation to understand reincarnation as a process of recurring or eternal life. To fall asleep on the shore or threshold is to lose consciousness of this, whereupon a snake, a symbol of lower animal consciousness steals understanding: the Fall repeated.

There are many stories and micro biographies that will also tease because the whole story or its significance is not developed. Perhaps the reader will be inspired to search further.

It’s important to realise that these traditions aim to describe events that have no material counterpart. Just as you can’t take your thoughts and put them in a paper bag, being is an aspect of our existence that cannot be reduced to material existence. Our present materiality, as we know it, is an effect of sensory organisation. it is a construction.

There is somewhat too much willingness I think to accept every version of esoteric tales and legends and every commentator. Black indicates leading guides especially Steiner. He is more reliable in part because he teaches the reader to think. But this work may provoke a search for the ‘true truths’.

Paul Mathews, the reader, has a good clear voice, but proceeds slowly, perhaps to allow ongoing reflection, Many listeners will prefer listening perhaps 25% faster than the standard.

Teasing erudite telling of secrets with variable accuracy

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I really enjoyed this book. It definitely requires you not only suspend your belief but rather take your current perspective and starting position, which forms the paradigm you exist within, and throw it in the bin. If you can do that, you can follow the logic and bread crumbs through history and philosophy to discover a new paradigm for belief and truth that has (and still does) shifted and morphed over eons. At times I was hanging on by a thread or couldn’t accept the author’s narrative, as I was unable to completely shed the world view I started with, but none the less, a fascinating and inspiring read on history, spirituality, materialism, and truth.

More than a new perspective

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