Pathways to the Gods

by Erich von Däniken

A spaceport in the Andes! A computer chart in Egyptian ruins! Primitive sculptures of figures wearing space suits! Erich von Däniken's Chariots of the Gods stunned the world with the archaeological discovery that alien beings once colonized earth. Now, in Pathways to the Gods, von Däniken reveals the story of his travels following the trail of the ancient visitors---from the technologically sophisticated stone ruins in the Bolivian Andes to the sensational Sanskrit descriptions of space battles in Calcutta---new proof of von Däniken's startling theory that man descended from the stars!

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Mystery, Audiobook, Pseudoscience, Mythology, Alternate History

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Greek: Έριχ φον Νταίνικεν

Erich Anton Paul von Däniken (1935–2026) was a Swiss author of several pseudoscientific books which made claims about extraterrestrial influences on early human culture, including the best-selling Chariots of the Gods?, published in 1968. Däniken was one of the main figures responsible for popularizing the "paleo-contact" and ancient astronauts hypotheses.

The ideas put forth in his books are rejected by virtually all scientists and academics, who categorize his work as pseudohistory, pseudoarchaeology, and pseudoscience. Early in his career, he was convicted and served time for several counts of fraud or embezzlement, and wrote one of his books in prison.

Reviews

[Max Nemtsov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Самое примечательное тут - главы, написанные как натуральные травелоги, особенно в начале: наш герой путешествует в тех местах Южной Пасифики, где, так уж вышло, всего через несколько лет после него побывал и я. Изменилось мало что.

[Μιχάλης Παπαχατζάκης · Rating 2 out of 5]

Χαρακτηριστικό του Νταίνικεν: ένα αγαλματίδιο των μάγιας κρατάει κάτι στρογγυλό στα χέρια του. Οι αρχαιολόγοι (τού) λένε πως παριστάνει ιερογλυφικά που δεν έχουν αποκρυπτογραφηθεί ακόμα. "Και που ξέρουμε ότι δεν κρατάει μια λάμπα μόρς ή ένα εξάρτημα μικρού κινητήρα ή έναν πομπό φωτεινών σημάτων για ναυτιλιακή χρήση;". Σωστά. Πού το ξέρουμε; Βασικά αυτή είναι η συλλογιστική του με δυο κουβέντες: ζητάει ισχυρότατες αποδείξεις για τους ισχυρισμούς των αρχαιολόγων- και καλά κάνει- , δεν δίνει αποδείξεις για τους δικούς του.
Εντούτοις, το βιβλίο του "Ταξίδι στο Κιριμπάτι" (που είναι η αρχή ενός ταξιδιού του σε Ωκεανία-Ασία-Αμερική-Ευρώπη) είναι καλούτσικο βιβλίο γιατί- πέραν των θεωριών του- περιγράφει και τα ταξίδια του, τις περιπέτειές του και στοιχεία των τοπικών κοινωνιών εκεί γύρω στα 1980. Η φαντασία του κυριολεκτικά οργιάζει. Ας το κατατάξω στα (ψευδο)επιστημονικά βιβλία, αν και συγχρόνως ταξιδιωτικό. Αντίστοιχα, (1+3)/2 = 2**

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scrisoare către cititor „Este cu neputinţă să ştergi praful fără ca o mulţime de oameni să înceapă să tuşească.”

  Prinţul Philip, duce de Edinburgh, soţ al Reginei Elisabeta II.

  Dragă cititoare, dragă cititorule, Un om inteligent, care se ocupă cu obiceiurile noastre în privinţa lecturii – cred că era profesorul Alphons Silbermann -mi-a comunicat că o „generaţie de cititori” se formează în patru ani. Dacă stăm să socotim, pare să fie adevărat. Influentele cărţi cu poze formează, între al doilea şi al şaselea an al vieţii, prima generaţie de cititori. Apoi urmează manualele şi cărţile cu basme, până când, pe la zece ani, vin – e adevărat, doar în ziua de azi!

  — Cărţile comice, iar pentru fetele şi băieţii precoce romane pentru tineri, povestiri cu aventuri şi călătorii, ilustrări din viaţa animalelor. De pe la 14 ani deja, adolescenţii se familiarizează cu romane de toate felurile şi cu primele cărţi interesante de cercetări. Cu vârsta de 18 ani se anunţă prima tendinţă marcantă către teme mai speciale, care însoţesc poate întreaga viaţă sau – prin profesie, viaţa privată, hobby-uri şi evenimente deosebite -înnoiesc ritmul generaţiei de cititori.

  Soarta oricărei ipoteze – chiar şi a celei mai ştiinţifice!

  — Este aceea că trebuie dezvoltată în mod continuu. Şi, o mărturisesc, aici mă găsesc de fiecare dată într-o dilemă: pentru cititorii mei vechi poziţiile de plecare sunt clare. Ce „instrument” trebuie însă să le procur noilor mei cititori pentru a sta cu picioarele pe o temelie solidă între cer şi pământ? Nu vreau să-i plictisesc pe vechii mei cititori, dar nici nu vreau să-i trimit pe cei noi într-un labirint fără să le ofer nici o busolă.

  Îmi rămâne să notez, telegrafic, ceea ce susţin de 14 ani:

  În timpuri preistorice pământul a primit vizita unor fiinţe necunoscute din univers. În literatura aferentă sunt numiţi „extra-pământeni” sau „extratereştri”.

  Extratereştrii au creat inteligenţa omenească prin transformarea materialului ereditar al locuitorilor încă primitivi ai Pământului. Oamenii de ştiinţă au desemnat această transformare produsă în mod artificial a masei genetice prin termenul „mutaţie”. După părerea mea, naşterea inteligenţei omeneşti nu este un accident, o şansă într-o loterie, obţinută printr-un joc al întâmplării dintr-un miliard de posibilităţi, ci o intervenţie plănuită de fiinţe necunoscute din univers.

  Vechile religii au luat naştere de asemenea prin vizitele pe Pământ ale acelor străini şi astfel s-a ajuns la crearea de mituri şi legende, care transmit, încifrată în miezul lor, realitatea evenimentelor de demult.

[Dan Zarfati · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the more interesting books from Von Daniken, it is especially famous for its visit to the monoliths of Kiribati and other oddities, this book brought a lot of attention to this part of the world, and it seems that it was part of the so-called civilization of Lemuria, the other parts visited were Kashmir and other interesting places. The book is a very light easy read, and not a deep serious study of the anomalies, but it helped to highlight them, that is the strength of this author, not an incredible thinker, but someone who opens new paths for research, he opened the horizons for a new perception of this mysteries, if you like this particular author, then you should not miss this book.

[Tom Haynes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this book with a group of older books. This is from around 1980. The black and white photos in this paperback version are not very clear. The places von Däniken visits around the world have somewhat interesting mysteries.
I most enjoyed his telling of shipping his four wheel drive to Pakistan - India and the huge hassles he had getting it from the airport. His descriptions of the people and poverty of these two countries in 1979 as he travels around was interesting for me also.
I was hoping for a different kind of story that would be more in line with similar films I'd seen on the Discovery channel.

[Nouralita · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read Chariots, Signs and Gold of the Gods before this one and I was expecting more of the same. Instead of presenting interesting facts and theories, it seemed to me that von Däniken spent most of the book complaining or telling about his travel frustrations.
I listened to the audiobook. I started skipping pieces after 3 hours listening to travel logistics and not finding the sites he was looking for. No matter where I jumped to, von Däniken was complaining about something.
I rarely not finish a book, this one I even deleted.

[David Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title describes the book well. This book is more about the adventure that led Erich to ancient sites more than any new discoveries that were made. Not as good as the others but still interesting if you've never been to these places.

[Inaffablejames · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's Däniken, I like his studies. And I didn't mind that this one felt more like a field trip. They are definitely better books of his. But I did enjoy it. Plus extra point because I got exited once he mentioned Dresden hehehehe

[Xin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compared to 5 billion years of solitude by lee billings, this one is way more scientific and factual.

[Craig Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as chock full of questions as previous works. Too much description of the trips to see places than the places themselves.

[Heidi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I genuinely don’t know whether to file this under non-fiction or fiction.

[Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kiribati
Island halfway between Hawaii and Australia

“That was a shock. The Reverend was dead.”
Is this book fiction?? Nonfiction??
How aliens created cultures across the world, including Kiribati.

[Sydne · Rating 5 out of 5]

D_niken's therories about phenomenon like Stonehenge or the Nazca lines being of extraterrestrial doing might appear strange to many people, and I myself don't believe in it.
That doesn't take away from the fact that his books are very interesting though: D_niken is an expert on pyramids, both in Egypt and Central America, he has seen many more than above mentioned phenomenons, and he brings these to the eye of the reader.
I usually just mentally skip the parts about extraterrestrians and still get an amazing amount of information out of his books.

[Stefanie Dettmers]

Memo an mich: das war nicht so spannend, zu viele Geschichten, zu wenig Inhalte. DNF

[Lolilu]

COMPRAR
Viaje a kiribati