Unsolved Mysteries of History: An Eye-Opening Investigation Into the Most Baffling Events of All Time

by Paul Aron

Book Overview

* Who built Stonehenge? * Why did the pharaohs build the pyramids? * Did Richard III kill the princes in the tower? * Could the Titanic have been saved? * Did Hitler murder his niece? PRAISE FOR UNSOLVED MYSTERIES OF HISTORY "Like a sleuth, Aron pieces together the possible answers . . . It's an engaging way to learn more about history and the new evidence that sheds light on long-standing theories." --Daily Press "Aron has produced a fascinating...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471442577
• ISBN13: 9780471442578
• Release Date: August 2001
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 225 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Only intelligent and curious readers need apply

This is an interesting and remarkable little book. It is interesting because of its subject matter and remarkable because of the in-depth knowledge of those subjects displayed by its author. When I began reading the book, I fully expected it to be rather superficial and to be filled with personal opinions, but it wasn't. That was a pleasant surprise. Mr. Aron actually seemed to understand the subjects about which he was writing and to be cognizant of the various "expert" theories regarding them. I was impressed. I particularly liked the method in which the author presented his material. He simply described each "mystery" in some detail, then presented the various theories of the presumed "experts," regarding that subject along with the pros and cons of each premise. This served to clarify many of the subjects, dispelled a lot of fog, and, in some instances, added to the mystery. I found all of the chapters in the book, except chapter 15 (the presence of which puzzled me), to be both interesting and informative. But the ones which really struck my fancy were: Chapter 5: Was There Really a Trojan War? Chapter 11: What was Joan of Arc's "Sign"? Chapter 12: Who Invented Printing? Chapter 16: Did Mary, Queen of Scots, Murder Her Husband? Chapter 19: Was Mozart Poisoned? And Chapter 24: Why Did [Rudolph] Hess Fly to Scotland? It's hard to imagine that any intelligent reader wouldn't love to delve into subjects such as these. So, if you are intelligent and a bit curious, you'll certainly enjoy this book.

Very Intriguing

This is a great book that stimulates thought. In 25 chapters, Paul Aron explores some of the most baffling mysteries in our past, e.g. the resurrection of Christ, the statues on Easter Island, the Neanderthals, Stonehenge, the Pyramids in Egypt, the Nazca lines, Columbus, Shakespeare and many more. Explanations are not always offered. The book is great in that it offers synopses of the controversy/enigma surrounding many historical wonders; however, it lacks in detail by nature of its design (being a collection of many mysteries). This is actually a good thing in my opinion as the book stimulates curiousity, i.e. many chapters just provide a taste of their respective topics. As a result, I have read further on many of the subjects presented. Caution: If you're a faithful Christian, you may find the chapter on the ressurection offensive, as a few of my acquaintances have.

A Fascinating Tour through World History

This is an excellent and most enjoyable book. In 25 chapters, the author guides us through thousands of years of human activity, focusing on various unsolved historical mysteries. The fact that these mysteries are unsolved should not lead the reader to assume that this book offers solutions - it doesn't. However, in each of the 25 cases presented, the author brilliantly provides background information, describes the contentious issue, presents all (or most) sides in the debate and, where possible, indicates what the general consensus is today - all breathlessly condensed in less than 10 pages. In some cases, I was not even aware that there were any unsolved issues. The writing is clear and very engaging. At the end of each chapter, references are provided along with the author's comments on each one. What more can one ask for? This is a book that can be enjoyed by everyone, especially those interested in mysteries and detective stories - except that these ones are real. I now intend to seek out other similar books by this author with the expectation that they will be as fascinating as this one.

Unsolved Mysteries of History by Paul Aron

What a fun way to learn history!As in his earlier book on American history, Aron presents both sides of subjects that have puzzled historians for centuries. The chapters are concise, informative and clear. Especially interesting are the bibliographies which are also fun and show how historians have struggled to solve these mysteries.

Unsolved Mysteries of History by Paul Aron

A thoroughly enjoyable read. The author gets to the heart of each of the historical mysteries he explores with grace and skill. His analyses are always provocative, and always fun.