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The Book of Unexplained Mysteries: On the Trail of the Secret and the Strange
Everybody loves a good mystery and sometimes the questions can be more interesting than the answers.
Will Pearson investigates twenty unique mysteries with their broad spectrum of strangeness. Some, like the sudden disappearance of the sailing ship Mary Celeste's passengers and crew have gained universal currency. Was the Wow! Signal a radio transmission form deep space, or was it the ambient resonating frequency of a passing comet? Cryptids like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster teeter on the boundaries of probable and improbable, hoax and reality, fact and fiction.
Whether it be the intrigue of lost civilisations, like Göblekli Tepe in Turkey, sensationalist interest in The Zodiac Killer, or the elusive Shugborough Code that neither Dickens nor Darwin could crack, each unsolved mystery presents a challenge in its own way.
Occasionally, it can feel as if there's a conspiracy at work - one in which scientists, journalists and 'professional explainers' want to put an end to anything and everything mysterious in life. Thankfully, not everything can be nailed down, sucked dry of its secrets and turned into a factoid.
Mysteries do still exist - and continue to tease us.
Sceptic or believer, the fun lies in probing them.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
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November 19, 2019This is my latest book, so I can hardly sing its praises myself. It's a mix of old and new Mysteries, from The Shugborough Code to Atlantis to Fenn's Treasure. See what you think!
January 19, 2021
I don't really have a lot to say about this book- it was good, don't get me wrong, but it just wasn't wow. What I liked was the vast scope of mysteries across time- from Stonehenge and the great pyramid at Giza, to things that are fairly recent like the Zodiac killer and Fenn's treasure. I found it really informative and some sections were in great depth (Area 51 and The Mary Celeste ).
However, the reason this book is only getting three stars is due to the amount of science in it, which I wasn't expecting. Perhaps it's down to personal preference, but I quite like reading about the outlandish and completely absurd conspiracy theories about mysteries- I feel like it adds to the entertainment factor. Sometimes the scientific explanations for things just completely lost me; without a diagram or a detailed image to see, I couldn't really visualise anything in my mind.
I would recommend this book to someone who likes/wants some scientific reasoning behind some of the World's biggest mysteries, but if you are like me and prefer something a bit more lighthearted, then I would recommend to skip this one.
However, the reason this book is only getting three stars is due to the amount of science in it, which I wasn't expecting. Perhaps it's down to personal preference, but I quite like reading about the outlandish and completely absurd conspiracy theories about mysteries- I feel like it adds to the entertainment factor. Sometimes the scientific explanations for things just completely lost me; without a diagram or a detailed image to see, I couldn't really visualise anything in my mind.
I would recommend this book to someone who likes/wants some scientific reasoning behind some of the World's biggest mysteries, but if you are like me and prefer something a bit more lighthearted, then I would recommend to skip this one.
April 12, 2024
⅔ tej książki było teoriami wyjaśnionymi działaniem kosmitów XD
October 20, 2023
Five stars would be too extreme and three stars would be downright cruel so I'm settling for four stars even though I have some persistent quibbles about the book. Too often the author veers away from the actual mystery at hand, going into detailed discussions about technological developments in the relevant field instead (probably the worst example was the 'Wow!' signal chapter). There is also a major disparity in chapter length between topics. Not that this is a negative but this is a firmly sceptical book where anything supernatural/extra-terrestrial is concerned.
There isn't a common thread linking the subjects or the chapters, besides a few archaeological mysteries (such as the pyramids and Stonehenge) being bundled together near the middle. This would be good reading for a teenager with a burgeoning interest in the obscure. It provides a good starting point, offering overviews of mysteries from prehistoric to modern times. The Mary Celeste chapter was the best (possibly because I knew so little about that one). It was light reading that was much appreciated after finishing the (albeit brilliant) vortex of despair that was 'House of Leaves'.
There isn't a common thread linking the subjects or the chapters, besides a few archaeological mysteries (such as the pyramids and Stonehenge) being bundled together near the middle. This would be good reading for a teenager with a burgeoning interest in the obscure. It provides a good starting point, offering overviews of mysteries from prehistoric to modern times. The Mary Celeste chapter was the best (possibly because I knew so little about that one). It was light reading that was much appreciated after finishing the (albeit brilliant) vortex of despair that was 'House of Leaves'.
November 21, 2022
Well, as the author says, what's wrong with a good mystery? I love them, and even more when I'm not handed nifty-crafted explanations :P
This was very entertaining and with some unexpected mysteries. There are, of course, the classic ones: UFOs, BigFoot, Nessy, the Marie Celeste. But then, in a rather unanticipatedly way, you find yourself reading about Quantum Physics, serial killers and the Shugborough Code. I liked that a lot :D
Disregarding the degree of any previous knowledge, all of them are nicely presented and even from the more commonplace ones I came out with one or two details I didn't know before.
Way better than most of this type of book usually are :P
This was very entertaining and with some unexpected mysteries. There are, of course, the classic ones: UFOs, BigFoot, Nessy, the Marie Celeste. But then, in a rather unanticipatedly way, you find yourself reading about Quantum Physics, serial killers and the Shugborough Code. I liked that a lot :D
Disregarding the degree of any previous knowledge, all of them are nicely presented and even from the more commonplace ones I came out with one or two details I didn't know before.
Way better than most of this type of book usually are :P
July 16, 2024
I like the stories mentioned in the book however it would’ve been good for them to be a bit more detailed and have some images or diagrams to explain a bit more. Some bits were a bit too scientific to imagine.
It wasn’t wow or great. It was ok average.
It wasn’t wow or great. It was ok average.
July 1, 2021
The Book of Unexplained Mysteries: On the Trail of the Secret and the Strange by Will Pearson (Weidenfeld Nicolson, 2021)
I must admit, I'm a sucker for unexplained mysteries. I'm not a tin foil hat conspiracy theorist, but a genuine mystery excites me.
This volume collects 20 mysteries from around the world in bite sized chapters. It's a good book for the casual reader, primarily offering skin deep analysis and offering very little in the way of explanation, though he does speculate a lot, most of the claims are unfounded and are claimed by, shall we say, people of low repute...
That's not to say I didn't learn a thing or two and the author does his best to explain things from a vast array of topics, such as history and archaeology, science, military engineering and more, one can be certain he isn't fluent in all these topics and he does a great job translating information to layman's terms.
A major downfall for me is that the author at times really trails off at a tangent, for example, instead of explaining the mysteries surrounding area 51, he instead fires off about the history & development of aircraft, related, sure, but not necessary, especially given the brief introduction each chapter acts as.
I must admit the book looks nice and that's what drew me to it. A nice solid red block with a nice typeface and simple bold images. I'm a simple man, clearly...
This book is pretty non-descript to be honest. A book to bang out in an afternoon or whilst waiting for your next read to arrive in the post. It's a decent starting point to some of the mysteries contained within, but its definitely not a book that is going to stick with you. Simple writing, simple research and that results in a simple book that lacks any sort sizzle.
3/5
I must admit, I'm a sucker for unexplained mysteries. I'm not a tin foil hat conspiracy theorist, but a genuine mystery excites me.
This volume collects 20 mysteries from around the world in bite sized chapters. It's a good book for the casual reader, primarily offering skin deep analysis and offering very little in the way of explanation, though he does speculate a lot, most of the claims are unfounded and are claimed by, shall we say, people of low repute...
That's not to say I didn't learn a thing or two and the author does his best to explain things from a vast array of topics, such as history and archaeology, science, military engineering and more, one can be certain he isn't fluent in all these topics and he does a great job translating information to layman's terms.
A major downfall for me is that the author at times really trails off at a tangent, for example, instead of explaining the mysteries surrounding area 51, he instead fires off about the history & development of aircraft, related, sure, but not necessary, especially given the brief introduction each chapter acts as.
I must admit the book looks nice and that's what drew me to it. A nice solid red block with a nice typeface and simple bold images. I'm a simple man, clearly...
This book is pretty non-descript to be honest. A book to bang out in an afternoon or whilst waiting for your next read to arrive in the post. It's a decent starting point to some of the mysteries contained within, but its definitely not a book that is going to stick with you. Simple writing, simple research and that results in a simple book that lacks any sort sizzle.
3/5
August 27, 2022
I picked this up as part of a small handful of books at the local library figuring that it looked like a decent book to dip in and out of. Most of the chapters listed in the contents had some familiarity and a few looked probably worth skipping: Area 51, Stonehenge, Loch Ness Monster. But enough to pass an afternoon or two.
In fact I read the whole thing from cover to cover and enjoyed it a great deal.
The first three chapters all include maritime scenes. The wealth used to build the Estate where the Shugborough Code is found was built upon, in short, grand larceny at sea. Longer version: stealing loot from foreigners, at sea. This is described in such vivid prose though!
Turns out the author served in the Royal Navy for a number of years.
The chapters on the most familiar “mysteries” were still a real education. Honestly: this is so so much better than books of this type usually are.
Chiding and admonishment of the author for continuing to spread the myth that a henge is a stone structure. It is not: a henge is an earthworks with an inner ditch. The spoil from the ditch was used to form a bank that surrounds it. Stonehenge sits within the poorly preserved remains of such a henge. Gobekli Tepe doesn’t.
In fact I read the whole thing from cover to cover and enjoyed it a great deal.
The first three chapters all include maritime scenes. The wealth used to build the Estate where the Shugborough Code is found was built upon, in short, grand larceny at sea. Longer version: stealing loot from foreigners, at sea. This is described in such vivid prose though!
Turns out the author served in the Royal Navy for a number of years.
The chapters on the most familiar “mysteries” were still a real education. Honestly: this is so so much better than books of this type usually are.
Chiding and admonishment of the author for continuing to spread the myth that a henge is a stone structure. It is not: a henge is an earthworks with an inner ditch. The spoil from the ditch was used to form a bank that surrounds it. Stonehenge sits within the poorly preserved remains of such a henge. Gobekli Tepe doesn’t.
March 1, 2024
***AUDIOBOOK***
As a guy who listens to a lot of podcasts about this sort of thing, it was pretty refreshing to have less bombastic take on the various mysteries contained within. This book takes a straightforward and frank approach, offering plenty of detail, a startling amount of history, and occasional dry wit.
I’ll put it this way: I’ve listened to every podcast about the Zodiac Killer available, and the way the story was told here was my favorite, even if I learned nothing new.
As a guy who listens to a lot of podcasts about this sort of thing, it was pretty refreshing to have less bombastic take on the various mysteries contained within. This book takes a straightforward and frank approach, offering plenty of detail, a startling amount of history, and occasional dry wit.
I’ll put it this way: I’ve listened to every podcast about the Zodiac Killer available, and the way the story was told here was my favorite, even if I learned nothing new.
June 4, 2020
Niech rzuci kamieniem ten, kogo nie ciekawią sekrety i tajemnice. Od tych prostych i błahych, szeptanych na ucho, po te wielkie, o światowym zasięgu, przekazywane przez pokolenia. Taka już natura człowieka, że tajemnice istnieć będą, a te nierozwiązane ciągle intrygują.
Will Pearson w „Na tropie niewyjaśnionego” opisuje dwadzieścia tajemnic „wobec których nauka pozostaje bezradna”. Wszystkie one tworzą szerokie spektrum osobowości. Jedne z nich są bardziej, inne mniej znane. Myślę, że nie ma osoby która nie zna Wielkiej Stopy czy potwora z Loch Ness.
Po lekturze nie potrafię dokładnie określić grupy docelowej. Osobie znającej temat będzie pewnie towarzyszył uśmieszek drwiny, bo – choć do znawców nie należę – mam wrażenie, że tematy potraktowano mocno pobieżnie. Sama muszę przyznać, że żaden z rozdziałów nie pochłonął mnie na tyle, bym szukała w danej tematyce więcej informacji. Zaletą jest to, że autor nie narzuca swojej teorii, że próbuje na siłę podać rozwiązania. Jest więc tu trochę teorii i dużo pytań.
W mojej ocenie sporo tu chaosu. I jako nałogowy czytelnik czułam pewien niedosyt. Za mało efektów zaskoczenia, brak „wow!”. Zabrakło zdjęć, rycin czy ilustracji, które pomogłyby urzeczywistnić i zrozumieć pewne kwestie. Choć może to celowy zabieg, taka gra z czytelnikiem w „poszukaj sobie sam”. Dla mnie to ciekawostka, oddech od tego co czytam zwykle. Najważniejsze, że „Na tropie niewyjaśnionego” można czytać niekoniecznie jednym ciągiem, a małymi kawałkami, bo jest po prostu zbiorem wielu odrębnych wątków. Ot, lektura do porannej kawy.
Za egzemplarz dziękuję Wydawnictwu Znak
Will Pearson w „Na tropie niewyjaśnionego” opisuje dwadzieścia tajemnic „wobec których nauka pozostaje bezradna”. Wszystkie one tworzą szerokie spektrum osobowości. Jedne z nich są bardziej, inne mniej znane. Myślę, że nie ma osoby która nie zna Wielkiej Stopy czy potwora z Loch Ness.
Po lekturze nie potrafię dokładnie określić grupy docelowej. Osobie znającej temat będzie pewnie towarzyszył uśmieszek drwiny, bo – choć do znawców nie należę – mam wrażenie, że tematy potraktowano mocno pobieżnie. Sama muszę przyznać, że żaden z rozdziałów nie pochłonął mnie na tyle, bym szukała w danej tematyce więcej informacji. Zaletą jest to, że autor nie narzuca swojej teorii, że próbuje na siłę podać rozwiązania. Jest więc tu trochę teorii i dużo pytań.
W mojej ocenie sporo tu chaosu. I jako nałogowy czytelnik czułam pewien niedosyt. Za mało efektów zaskoczenia, brak „wow!”. Zabrakło zdjęć, rycin czy ilustracji, które pomogłyby urzeczywistnić i zrozumieć pewne kwestie. Choć może to celowy zabieg, taka gra z czytelnikiem w „poszukaj sobie sam”. Dla mnie to ciekawostka, oddech od tego co czytam zwykle. Najważniejsze, że „Na tropie niewyjaśnionego” można czytać niekoniecznie jednym ciągiem, a małymi kawałkami, bo jest po prostu zbiorem wielu odrębnych wątków. Ot, lektura do porannej kawy.
Za egzemplarz dziękuję Wydawnictwu Znak
June 24, 2024
The book felt overly verbose, packed with information that often seemed irrelevant and dull, failing to maintain interest. The first story centers on the Shugborough code, a sequence of letters carved on the 18th-century Shepherd's Monument at Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire, England, beneath a mirror image of Nicolas Poussin's painting "The Shepherds of Arcadia." However, before delving into the story, the author spends about 10 pages discussing the exploits of George Hanson, who commissioned Shugborough Hall.
The historical digressions continue throughout the book. In the story of the Mary Celeste, numerous pages are devoted to the legal proceedings in Gibraltar after the ship was salvaged and docked there. In the tale of Flight 19's disappearance in the Bermuda Triangle, the registration numbers of the planes are meticulously noted.
I caught myself zoning out several times. It’s boring.
The historical digressions continue throughout the book. In the story of the Mary Celeste, numerous pages are devoted to the legal proceedings in Gibraltar after the ship was salvaged and docked there. In the tale of Flight 19's disappearance in the Bermuda Triangle, the registration numbers of the planes are meticulously noted.
I caught myself zoning out several times. It’s boring.
June 5, 2024
[audiobook]
I found this on Spotify included with premium so thought I'd give it a go, it was good! It has a good mix of mysteries and never gets too far into conspiracy territory: to name a few; Stone Henge, the Pyramids, Area 51/Roswell, the Zodiac Killer (the Zodiac chapter did seem really long and pretty horrid because it's about murders, trigger warning: murdurrr). The narration is by Peter Noble who is one of my favourites!
I found this on Spotify included with premium so thought I'd give it a go, it was good! It has a good mix of mysteries and never gets too far into conspiracy territory: to name a few; Stone Henge, the Pyramids, Area 51/Roswell, the Zodiac Killer (the Zodiac chapter did seem really long and pretty horrid because it's about murders, trigger warning: murdurrr). The narration is by Peter Noble who is one of my favourites!
January 2, 2021
If you like mysteries this book is for you. Most of them are famous, few were completely new, and I loved that. It doesn't want to give any "final answer" but show you the facts. Just realised I missed a treasure chest: it was found 6 months ago and I didn't even know 😨😨😨 Congrats to the one who found it!!
October 9, 2021
This is a fun, modern survey of some well-known, unexplained mysteries and a few that were new to me. The tone is playful but never dismissive. It feels well-researched and firmly planted. It's a good book.
February 19, 2022
glad to know that any weird or crazy was just a doctored tale and or made up. puts a perspective on the myths of the world. a lot of interesting info about how the pyramids were build pretty fast, in a generation. while stone henge took about 300-500 years.
June 15, 2020
Jak na książkę z biedronki to nawet spox.
March 1, 2021
Nice read.
April 25, 2021
Cóż, zależnie od rozdziału - czyli zagadki - było albo ekstremalnie nudny albo maksymalnie wciągający. Pierwszy rozdział żałuje ze w ogole przeczytałam, był totalnie z kosmosu 😒
June 23, 2021
DNF 170/294. Ależ to było nudne. Nie byłam w stanie dojść do końca mimo kilku powrotów do tej pozycji. Zdecydowanie za dużo dygresji wgl niezwiązanych z tematami danych rozdziałów.
February 28, 2022
Bardzo nierówna, ale rozdział pt. "Mary Celeste" zdecydowanie warto.
May 2, 2022
Freaky, unsettling and intriguing. It gets a bit dry at some points but is an o.k, though not very detailed account.
June 10, 2023
Krótko, zwięźle, ale bardzo interesująco o kilku bardziej i mniej znanych tajemnicach świata.
July 28, 2023
Picked randomly while browsing the library. Some good chapters (such as the one on the Mary Celeste, which I did not know about), some others a bit rushed.
October 13, 2023
Between 3 and 3.5
January 14, 2024
Nothing staggeringly new, but nicely written and accessible and draws your interest in.
February 13, 2024
Starts off like it's heavily researched and scholarly but ends up with here's some random merde to fill out the page count before lunch
June 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️¾
July 3, 2025
Jest naprawdę bardzo fajna. 4 a nie 5 gwiazdek bo nie wciągnęła mnie na tyle aby skończyć ją szybko…. Natomiast za każdym razem jak już do niej usiadłam nie chciałam jej odkładać
July 23, 2025
Put it in the boring box
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews