The Secret History of the World: As Laid Down by the Secret Societies

by Mark Booth

Genres: History, Audiobook, Nonfiction

Paperback

Published January 1, 2008

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Mark Booth is the real name of Jonathan Black.

Reviews

[Mick B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Secret History of the World is an ambitious and intriguing exploration of esoteric traditions, secret societies, and hidden knowledge. Mark Booth presents an alternative view of history, weaving together mythology, mysticism, and philosophy into a grand, unconventional narrative.

Before diving in, it’s important to clarify what this book is not. If you’re expecting a retelling of history from an anti-victor lens—challenging traditional historical narratives with new evidence or critical analysis—this isn’t that book. That was my initial expectation, and I quickly realized that Booth is less concerned with revisiting history through a skeptical or revisionist lens and more focused on presenting a mystical, symbolic, and often speculative interpretation of events.

Booth delves into the teachings of the Freemasons, Rosicrucians, and other esoteric traditions, connecting them to major historical events and figures. His writing is engaging, and the scope of his research is impressive, making for a fascinating (if sometimes meandering) read. However, the line between historical fact, interpretation, and outright speculation is often blurred. This isn’t so much a history book as it is an exploration of esoteric thought and alternative perspectives.

The pacing also felt uneven—some sections were deeply engaging, while others felt repetitive or overly abstract. The book works best when taken as an imaginative journey through the world of hidden traditions rather than as a purely factual account.

You should read this if...
✔️ You’re interested in esoteric traditions, mysticism, and secret societies.
✔️ You enjoy speculative takes on history, rather than strict historical analysis.
✔️ You’re fascinated by alternative perspectives on major historical events.
✔️ You’re open to reading about history through a more symbolic or mystical lens.
✔️ You don’t mind some blurring of fact and interpretation in storytelling.

[Gabby Trader · Rating 2 out of 5]

not my cup of tea, but I can see why it would be interesting to others

[Todd C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book somewhat interesting. It is a history of the various secret societies throughout history, what their beliefs were, and many of the famous people who have been a part of these groups. Another book teaching us things that are never taught in school! I learned how ideas like astrology, alchemy, altered states of consciousness were explored by these societies and famous figures. They believed this was key for human evolution to a higher state. Some of these groups missions were to guide humankind through history. Nowadays you would be ridiculed for discussing these.

If you're interested in reading about how some of the old societies were founded and what their beliefs were, groups like the Knights Templar, Rosicrucians, Illuminati, and Freemasons, you can learn a lot about them by reading this book.

[Rich · Rating 1 out of 5]

What this book lacks in scholarship it makes up for with total incoherence. An absolute dumpster fire.

[Saul V · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry to say that my review is actually a negative "pre-view". When I saw that this book was lauded by Graham Hancock, I realized this was going to be a speculative and not historical read. I am not discounting any joy one may get from this book as it may have nuggets of information or stories that are worth reading. I decided to keep the book as a reference for looking up periods and/or occurrences that many consider to be speculative in nature.

[Spencer Yonce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very entertaining read. Would only recommend to a certain type of person. Most won’t like this, but I did.

[Vickie Woodard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author connected the present to the past through important people and events.
Although I usually despise audiobooks, this one was worth it.

[Carol Pryanovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s very thought provoking