Product Description

An organization shrouded in myth and secrecy, the Freemasons are an ancient brotherhood with members including some of the most influential people in history and in the world today. Some say they are a benign entity, while others believe their actions are far more sinister. This book strips away the mystery and offers a glimpse inside this fascinating group, shedding light on little-known trivia and history and revealing some of the deepest secrets of the Freemasons. Readers will discover:

• Secret handshakes -- what they are, why they exist, and their meanings
• Clandestine initiation rituals
• The ceremonies and rituals that happen behind closed doors
• Trivia on famous Freemasons, including Winston Churchill and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin
• Myths and conspiracy theories involving the Freemasons
• Fascinating facts and trivia tidbits

With color illustrations and photographs throughout, this guide is a fascinating look at some of the most closely-guarded secrets of the mysterious brotherhood.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1143730 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-02
• Released on: 2007-01-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

Customer Reviews

The book is a brief review
I expected from the description of the book to see more detail than what I received. If you look at the dimensions of the book, you see it's 196 very small pages. What you don't see is that a high percentage of the book is pictures and diagrams. Much of the information is very repetitive, even on the same page. The author uses little outtakes of the text that is on the page to highlight the pages, but there is so little information on each page that this isn't necessary. The writing style is informative, but on the level of a grade school textbook. The information given is presented in an accurate, fair and educated manner, but is very superficial leaving the reader with a feeling of being shortchanged. While reading this book, which took very little time, I have the impression that the author did extensive research to gain this degree of accuracy, and I don't see much excuse in not presenting a lot more of the information. I have the gut feeling that much of it was edited out to make it fit in a small book, when an extensive text might have been more appropriate. In all, my guess is that all the information in the book would fit in about 40 or so full pages of text. I give it 3 stars because the data are accurate and fair, and the price fits the size of the book, and because I am feeling generous today.

Secrets Revealed
I consider this book informative and insightful. But there are certain things that only Lodge members should keep 'secret', disclosing everything takes away from the mysteries of the organization...

Freemasons - Europe & America
It is fun to read and learn the secrets and mystery of the Freemasons in the Western civilization. It helps answer the long tradition and history of brotherhood in terms of rituals, signs, symbols and even handshakes. This book in a few pages related the connections with Scottish Rite and Shriners. It included a list of who is and who is not in America, especially the presidents.

This book pointed out facts and myth in the internet age with highlights in music, literature, movies and televisions with a few jokes. The last few pages talked about becoming a Freemason who is expected to help brethren in terms of need, and that they will likewise return.

I notice that Chinese "tong " organizations are permitted to use the term Chinese Freemason and the symbols of compass and square and letter G since Gold Rush among the violet anti-Chinese acts. It must have been a secret handshake for the fraternity.