The World's Last Mysteries

by Reader's Digest Association

Book Overview

Reports facts and the most recent theories concerning ancient civilizations, archaeological discoveries, unexplained catastrophes, and other mysteries from man's past, illustrating accounts with... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 089577044X
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: Readers Digest
• Length: 319 Pages
• Weight: 2.85 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Extensive study of civilizational enigmas

This lavishly illustrated book examines many unanswered questions about our ancestors and their way of life. It uncovers inexplicable enigmas and riddles that defy scientific explanation, considering the various interpretations of the meaning of these phenomena and their place in the complex puzzle of history and prehistory. The utterly absorbing text is enhanced by impressive full-colour illustrations, maps and photographs. Although the volume is meant for the general reader, it is quite in-depth and much more than just a coffee table book. The chapters: In Search Of Ancient Worlds investigates the myth of Atlantis in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, the search for Eldorado, the Queen of Sheba and the forgotten discoverers of the New World. The Stone Giants looks at dolmens, menhirs, Corsican statues, Stonehenge and Easter Island. Cities Of Mystery deals with Teotihuacan, the Indus Valley civilization, Tihuanaco, the cities of Catal Huyuk, Jericho and other ancient urban settlements. Secrets Of The Pyramids examines the myth of the tower of Babel, pyramids in the Americas and the pyramids of Egypt. Vanished People, Ravaged Lands is devoted to the ancient fertile Sahara, the Scythians, Great Zimbabwe, Angkor Wat, the Mayas, Nazca and the matter of the 1908 explosion in Siberia. At the end, A Gazetteer of Mysterious Sites Around The World lists sites by country from Albania to Yugoslavia, with black & white photographs. The book concludes with an index.

Mysteries remain mysterious

Perhaps the most valuable use of this book is it's ability to provoke thought. Evidence is presented. Perhaps the author's prose is hinted at. But the ultimate answers are your's alone. I respect this unbiased presentation of facts. Not having the explanations as being the unquestioned fact. This publication is definately a useful history book. My personal interests have been in the pre- Columbus settlers to the North American continent. Western history books are very biased to European history. Any discovery extending the idea that other peoples visited and lived here before Erikson or Columbus is considered a "major find". It's only logical that other civilizations were here before the Europeans came. In fact, it's quite proposterous to believe that only the Europeans found this continent. With this mindset, much of the overall *world's* history has been lost. This book was published in 1978 by the respectful "Reader's Digest Association". During the last 30 years, there have been many discoveries that would only seem to enhance this book's findings. I found this book to be very educational, as well as entertaining. It is now "OUT OF PRINT", but can be had for such a low cost, it's well worth it.