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The Secret History of the World
They say that history is written by the victors. But what if history - or what we have come to know as history - has all along been written by the wrong people? What if everything we've been told is only part of the story? What if it's the wrong part? In this groundbreaking new work, Mark Booth embarks on an enthralling intellectual tour of our world's secret histories. Starting from a dangerous premise - that everything we've been taught about our world's past is corrupted, and that the stories put forward by the various cults and mystery schools throughout history are true - Booth produces nothing short of an alternate history of the past 3,000 years.
History is more than a list of things that have happened; it's a measure of consciousness and experience. And in The Secret History of the World, Booth's take on history is relentless, charging through time and space and thought in interdisciplinary fashion. Embracing cognitive science, religion, psychology, historiography, and philosophy, he draws a new timeline, and a huge swath of our cultural heritage that has long been hidden is restored. From Greek and Egyptian mythology to Jewish folklore, from Christian cults to Freemasons, from Charlemagne to Don Quixote, from George Washington to Hitler - Booth shows without a doubt that history as we know it needs a revolutionary rethink, and he has 3,000 years of hidden wisdom to back it up.
History is more than a list of things that have happened; it's a measure of consciousness and experience. And in The Secret History of the World, Booth's take on history is relentless, charging through time and space and thought in interdisciplinary fashion. Embracing cognitive science, religion, psychology, historiography, and philosophy, he draws a new timeline, and a huge swath of our cultural heritage that has long been hidden is restored. From Greek and Egyptian mythology to Jewish folklore, from Christian cults to Freemasons, from Charlemagne to Don Quixote, from George Washington to Hitler - Booth shows without a doubt that history as we know it needs a revolutionary rethink, and he has 3,000 years of hidden wisdom to back it up.
- GenresHistory
Audible Audio
Published February 19, 2008
29 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Mark Booth
19 books58 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Mark Booth is the real name of Jonathan Black.
Mark Booth is the real name of Jonathan Black.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 9, 2025
This book really should have been titled The Secret History of Ideas of the World. Thought provoking, but I suggest you fact check new information that you hear to ensure accuracy. I fact checked some curious details mentioned about Crick and Lenin. I found enough evidence to suggest they are false or disputable. If I felt more comfortable that everything mentioned was historically accurate I would have rated 4, but settled on 3 stars.
August 17, 2025
Schizophrenic druggy. Promotes hate and satanism. If you are Christian and know what’s right stay away from this book. Mark Booth thinks he’s some kind of visionary who believes he found the secret truth to this world. Turns out he’s just a drugged up man who needs help. I believe in certain “conspiracy theory’s” but Mark Booths theory’s are just ridiculously bad.
June 19, 2025
The Secret History of the World by Mark Booth was a New York Times bestseller and I think it is an extraordinary book
10 out of 10
This is one of those rare, fantastic (perhaps literally) books that has enthused this reader, moreover, just as I have a bad tendency to put books aside, after only a few (rather disappointing) pages, relying too much on Blink https://realini.blogspot.com/2013/05/... lately more than disappointing it would be sensible, The Secret History has provoked the opposite reaction, I am reluctant to put it down
However, we need to progress, and then later I could find that I was too dedicated to a proposition that could be just as preposterous as what Jordan Peterson is pushing (full disclosure, I watched the fellow, found him enticing, and read his Twelve rules, normally, a link to my view on that would be included, but it is rather embarrassing as it is, to have embraced such nonsense then) at least if we have a materialistic view
Indeed, Mark Booth is really going (too) far in his insistence on miracles, the idealism that should be the rule, or maybe he is just a visionary, an initiate, one able to get into altered states of consciousness, perhaps the Highest State, one that could be associated with Flow (again, a link would be here, but you could ask for more in a commentary)
‘Higher knowledge of the World comes from Altered states of consciousness…Maybe genius is not close to madness, but to altered states brought on by esoteric training’ this is more than an interesting, overwhelming argument, Mark Booth lists so many names of initiates, great minds that have had an association with alchemy, the occult, secret societies – the freemasons and their role at the birth of the United States comes to mind, how Washington and other founding fathers have been members of the freemason lodges (was it, or am I in a state of trance?) and the capital of the US has some distinct characteristics, signs are also on the dollar bills
Shakespeare is given a chapter, but there is speculation over his identity, The Tempest is a celebration of the esoteric, Sufis and love as means to access a higher state are in here, the heroes of modern science have been influenced by the occult, Isaac Newton was sexually confused, lodged with an adept of alchemy
Giordano Bruno believed in the Egyptian system, Leibnitz was fascinated by cabalistic writings, an alchemist resurrected a rose from the ashes, in front of the queen of Sweden, Rene Descartes was looking for the secrets of the Rose crucians, Pascal has achieved illumination, these are just some of the samples of this magic book
We also have the ‘secret’ (if it is true) background of the French Revolution, with most or all its leaders having been ‘illuminated’ and this is connected with the illuminati, a secret, malevolent society, established in Germany, one that was supposed to know ‘The Secret’, which would be divulged to be ‘there is no secret’, the purpose was only to get control, and eventually bring the world to destruction through cunning
They have infiltrated freemason lodges, and then we would get the mayhem of the 17989 French Revolution, which according to this material, would have been originated in Germany, Saturn eating his children, Danton and the rest would be killed, most of those executed were not aristocrats, but regular people…
Others are present in these ‘illuminated’ pages, Tesla with his over 700 inventions, Edison and Graham Bell were involved in the esoteric as well, though alchemists are more interested in transforming the spirit, not the matter into gold (would this be true?) and then we come to Swedenborg, and his extraordinary revelations
If we are to take them as such, he started running on the street like a mad man, but apparently, he had visions, Jesus Christ talked to him – the better known Mohamed is included, with his magical encounter with Allah, though he was illiterate (by the way, about 20% of adults in the rich world have the literacy of a ten year old now) he could read and then transmit those messages from the highest spheres, incredible and illuminating, perhaps
Count Cagliostro is one of the colorful figures, one that could be taken as just a crook (a better, more erudite than the quintessential Swidler of the day, Orange Jesus, president elect) or else a magician, alchemist, healer, who met another occult man, the count of Saint Germain, one with real, earthly powers
The latter has been associated with Voltaire, Casanova and Mozart, the former called the count ‘Wonderman’, he was supposed to have lived to an extraordinary age, and without showing signs of aging, there are mysterious encounters, with Cagliostro, at 2 am, in a dark room, in a castle, Saint Germain had diplomatic roles as well
Actually, history is full of such mystifying figures, and Raskolnikov is yet another, but we look at Lenin and we are told that the later was also a member of a secret society, the freemasons -was it…yes it was, I was curious, so I checked he was one of the 31st degree, just as there is this presence at a meeting of the American founding fathers, where a professor tells them about the flag, and Washington and the others accepted the proposals
To conclude, there is a possibility that this book would tempt one to become illogical, absurd, to embrace conspiracy theories (so far, a litmus test for yours truly, if someone starts telling me about the twin towers or the like, I just run, metaphorically, and often literally) and wait for Satan to arrive and things like that, otherwise, it seemed to me that it is wroth exploring, even the possibility that we can reach The Highest State of Consciousness aka Flow
Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
Some favorite quotes from To The Hermitage and other works
‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’
10 out of 10
This is one of those rare, fantastic (perhaps literally) books that has enthused this reader, moreover, just as I have a bad tendency to put books aside, after only a few (rather disappointing) pages, relying too much on Blink https://realini.blogspot.com/2013/05/... lately more than disappointing it would be sensible, The Secret History has provoked the opposite reaction, I am reluctant to put it down
However, we need to progress, and then later I could find that I was too dedicated to a proposition that could be just as preposterous as what Jordan Peterson is pushing (full disclosure, I watched the fellow, found him enticing, and read his Twelve rules, normally, a link to my view on that would be included, but it is rather embarrassing as it is, to have embraced such nonsense then) at least if we have a materialistic view
Indeed, Mark Booth is really going (too) far in his insistence on miracles, the idealism that should be the rule, or maybe he is just a visionary, an initiate, one able to get into altered states of consciousness, perhaps the Highest State, one that could be associated with Flow (again, a link would be here, but you could ask for more in a commentary)
‘Higher knowledge of the World comes from Altered states of consciousness…Maybe genius is not close to madness, but to altered states brought on by esoteric training’ this is more than an interesting, overwhelming argument, Mark Booth lists so many names of initiates, great minds that have had an association with alchemy, the occult, secret societies – the freemasons and their role at the birth of the United States comes to mind, how Washington and other founding fathers have been members of the freemason lodges (was it, or am I in a state of trance?) and the capital of the US has some distinct characteristics, signs are also on the dollar bills
Shakespeare is given a chapter, but there is speculation over his identity, The Tempest is a celebration of the esoteric, Sufis and love as means to access a higher state are in here, the heroes of modern science have been influenced by the occult, Isaac Newton was sexually confused, lodged with an adept of alchemy
Giordano Bruno believed in the Egyptian system, Leibnitz was fascinated by cabalistic writings, an alchemist resurrected a rose from the ashes, in front of the queen of Sweden, Rene Descartes was looking for the secrets of the Rose crucians, Pascal has achieved illumination, these are just some of the samples of this magic book
We also have the ‘secret’ (if it is true) background of the French Revolution, with most or all its leaders having been ‘illuminated’ and this is connected with the illuminati, a secret, malevolent society, established in Germany, one that was supposed to know ‘The Secret’, which would be divulged to be ‘there is no secret’, the purpose was only to get control, and eventually bring the world to destruction through cunning
They have infiltrated freemason lodges, and then we would get the mayhem of the 17989 French Revolution, which according to this material, would have been originated in Germany, Saturn eating his children, Danton and the rest would be killed, most of those executed were not aristocrats, but regular people…
Others are present in these ‘illuminated’ pages, Tesla with his over 700 inventions, Edison and Graham Bell were involved in the esoteric as well, though alchemists are more interested in transforming the spirit, not the matter into gold (would this be true?) and then we come to Swedenborg, and his extraordinary revelations
If we are to take them as such, he started running on the street like a mad man, but apparently, he had visions, Jesus Christ talked to him – the better known Mohamed is included, with his magical encounter with Allah, though he was illiterate (by the way, about 20% of adults in the rich world have the literacy of a ten year old now) he could read and then transmit those messages from the highest spheres, incredible and illuminating, perhaps
Count Cagliostro is one of the colorful figures, one that could be taken as just a crook (a better, more erudite than the quintessential Swidler of the day, Orange Jesus, president elect) or else a magician, alchemist, healer, who met another occult man, the count of Saint Germain, one with real, earthly powers
The latter has been associated with Voltaire, Casanova and Mozart, the former called the count ‘Wonderman’, he was supposed to have lived to an extraordinary age, and without showing signs of aging, there are mysterious encounters, with Cagliostro, at 2 am, in a dark room, in a castle, Saint Germain had diplomatic roles as well
Actually, history is full of such mystifying figures, and Raskolnikov is yet another, but we look at Lenin and we are told that the later was also a member of a secret society, the freemasons -was it…yes it was, I was curious, so I checked he was one of the 31st degree, just as there is this presence at a meeting of the American founding fathers, where a professor tells them about the flag, and Washington and the others accepted the proposals
To conclude, there is a possibility that this book would tempt one to become illogical, absurd, to embrace conspiracy theories (so far, a litmus test for yours truly, if someone starts telling me about the twin towers or the like, I just run, metaphorically, and often literally) and wait for Satan to arrive and things like that, otherwise, it seemed to me that it is wroth exploring, even the possibility that we can reach The Highest State of Consciousness aka Flow
Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
Some favorite quotes from To The Hermitage and other works
‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’
January 11, 2026
This book feels like peeling back the layers of history to glimpse the hidden machinery beneath it. It isn’t a straightforward retelling of events but a reimagining of how humanity’s spiritual and mythological beliefs shaped the world as we know it. Every chapter feels like unlocking a secret chamber, each one offering a glimpse into how mysticism, religion, and philosophy have danced together across centuries. It’s equal parts history and mystery, blurring the line between what we know and what we feel to be true.
The people who inhabit these pages, from philosophers and prophets to alchemists and dreamers, are presented not just as figures from the past but as keepers of something greater than knowledge. Figures like Pythagoras and Hermes feel vividly alive, not distant relics. Their teachings and journeys are woven into a larger tapestry that explores how humanity has long sought to understand existence itself. Reading about them feels intimate, as though you’re sitting among them, hearing their truths unfold in whispered tones.
The themes that emerge are profound: the pursuit of hidden wisdom, the battle between light and shadow within human consciousness, and the eternal question of how myth and reality intertwine. It challenges the reader to rethink history not as a series of cold facts but as a living story filled with symbolism and purpose. There’s an undeniable pull to the way it connects the cosmic with the personal, leaving you with the sense that the world’s story is far more layered than it appears.
What makes it so compelling is the writing itself. It’s lush, lyrical, and brimming with curiosity. The tone carries a quiet reverence for the mysteries it explores while still inviting you to question and wonder. It’s not an easy read in the traditional sense, but it rewards patience with revelation. By the end, you’re left with that rare feeling of having glimpsed something vast and ancient, something that lingers long after the final page.
Read more here: https://annietheinkdrinker.wordpress....
The people who inhabit these pages, from philosophers and prophets to alchemists and dreamers, are presented not just as figures from the past but as keepers of something greater than knowledge. Figures like Pythagoras and Hermes feel vividly alive, not distant relics. Their teachings and journeys are woven into a larger tapestry that explores how humanity has long sought to understand existence itself. Reading about them feels intimate, as though you’re sitting among them, hearing their truths unfold in whispered tones.
The themes that emerge are profound: the pursuit of hidden wisdom, the battle between light and shadow within human consciousness, and the eternal question of how myth and reality intertwine. It challenges the reader to rethink history not as a series of cold facts but as a living story filled with symbolism and purpose. There’s an undeniable pull to the way it connects the cosmic with the personal, leaving you with the sense that the world’s story is far more layered than it appears.
What makes it so compelling is the writing itself. It’s lush, lyrical, and brimming with curiosity. The tone carries a quiet reverence for the mysteries it explores while still inviting you to question and wonder. It’s not an easy read in the traditional sense, but it rewards patience with revelation. By the end, you’re left with that rare feeling of having glimpsed something vast and ancient, something that lingers long after the final page.
Read more here: https://annietheinkdrinker.wordpress....
August 25, 2025
I literally just finished this book and plan to start it over immediately with a paperback copy in front of me while I listen so I can highlight and notate the hundreds of things that I want to remember!
The narrator is fantastic! his voice and inflection are incredible, I could listen to him talk about anything and be sure to be captivated for hours!
This book delves into the worlds development of human psychology by looking through a unique lens that includes, history, archeology, science, mathematics, religion, spirituality, occultism, poetry, story telling, psychology, astrology, philosophy, and So Much More! Weaving it all together, showing how all these things work together, that they are not separate beliefs but threads in a woven tapestry of conciousness.
This is my favorite read of the year. 10 out of 5 for me. I wish everybody would read this book.
The narrator is fantastic! his voice and inflection are incredible, I could listen to him talk about anything and be sure to be captivated for hours!
This book delves into the worlds development of human psychology by looking through a unique lens that includes, history, archeology, science, mathematics, religion, spirituality, occultism, poetry, story telling, psychology, astrology, philosophy, and So Much More! Weaving it all together, showing how all these things work together, that they are not separate beliefs but threads in a woven tapestry of conciousness.
This is my favorite read of the year. 10 out of 5 for me. I wish everybody would read this book.
August 7, 2025
This book examines the history of the world as understood by mystics, meditators and initiates; How mystics created the earliest forms of religion, science and culture. How various secret societies have influenced the creation of nations and the influence of one genius mind has sparked new ideas in countless other people is traced through history. So very interesting and valuable to examine and study!
October 31, 2025
Very, very difficult to read. A close DNF from me. Very badly edited; incredibly repetitive. The way it is written will put you off entirely. I found myself reading paragraphs again and again trying to understand what could be written simply, but is unnecessarily complicated. Complex ideas are not written simply for the reader to understand.
This book was a recommendation from Professor Jiang’s lectures that I follow on YouTube otherwise I would have never completed it.
This book was a recommendation from Professor Jiang’s lectures that I follow on YouTube otherwise I would have never completed it.
Currently reading
November 7, 2025The most compelling quote from Booth is on page 226, “Archaeologists discovered that if you look for traces of the Hebrews in the reign of Ramsees II or if you look for example, for traces of the fall of Jericho, or the temple of Solomon and the corresponding archaeological layers, you will find absolutely nothing. This led to a consensus among academics that the epic myths of the origins of the Jews were ‘just myths’ in the sense that they had no basis in historical reality.”
April 17, 2025
The book was okay but it seemed cover ground that I believe most well studied theological fans will be familiar with already. I struggled to find anything novel.
May 9, 2025
One of the oddest books I’ve read. It didn’t help the author hopped around storylines and in and out of timelines like he himself was on mushrooms while writing.
July 30, 2025
This is the first book I’ve read in a long time that felt like a big waste of time. I continued hoping at some point that it would “get better”, but it never happened.
September 2, 2025
bs book
November 22, 2025
Oh my god. Inexplicably unintelligent and uneducated. So unbearably moronic
December 6, 2025
Some interesting ideas, too many speculations.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews