Secret Societies: Inside the World's Most Notorious Organizations

by John Lawrence Reynolds

A comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at the world's most notorious secret societies, including their origins and histories, inititiations and rituals, secret signs and members.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Religion, Conspiracy Theories, Audiobook, Crime, American History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published September 7, 2006

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not a bad book. I first bought the book in the hopes it would discuss the secrets and conspiracy theories surrounding various groups and organizations, and it didn't exactly do that. It provided very detailed historical accounts of the formation of each group, but at times, you would read a paragraph and have no idea what you just read. I'm still not exactly sure what I learned from the book, except that it wasn't exactly what I was looking for. Still, the book was interesting at times, and was well written. The groups the author writes about are very interesting, and the book does make you want to learn more about some of them.

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. It started about the assasins and their brainwashing in Ancient times. Their subservience toward their lords with total willingness to die with the hope of going to paradise. How they were deceived by this idea and their connection with the al qaeda today.

Also, it talked about the knight templars, freemasonry, Illuminati,the holy grail, the jasons,skull & bones, Druids, Wicca, Triads, Yakuza...

This book comprised explanations to societies that we don't know much about nowadays and what originated them. How some of them started with a benign motive and what they have become today.
The possible holy grail existence and its descendants. How some secret sociteties exert power over the world, its wars and peace. How they initiate its members and what they've become after it...

How women were persecuted in the past with accusations of being witches. Changing the weather, eating babies, casting spells on people and having intercourse with the devil himself. The main reason that the catholic church did that, was that they had felt threatened by women,being afraid of being tempted by them and desiring them while they were living celibacy .
Women were tortured, and exposed to tests to say wether they were witches or not that they couldn't pass. Most of them had an unfortunate fate. Being burned at the stake or drowning...

How some of these concepts still exist on our minds and what is probably true or just stories. I think this book opens your mind to have different points of view.

[MischaS_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

To je tak, když si vyberete referát a nakonec zjistíte, že musíte číst věci, které vám pomalu vymyjí mozek. Tahle byla aspoň zajímavá.

[Steve Cran · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this was a book about secret socities then we would not know they exist. Everyone knows about the Mason, Illuminati, Knights Templar and Skull and Bones . They are not secret if everyone knows about you, rather they are societies with secrets.

What is the point of secrecy? Many a times groups of people will go underground due to persecution and discrimination . Hiding so to speak. Sure it keeps you safe but in the end it can backfire. People will speculate behind what is going on behind close doors.

One prime example is a religion that is very prominent today. They went underground due to persecution. THey were accused of having orgies in the woods, eating babies and drinking blood. What group was this. Christians said this about witches but it was the Romans who said this about Christians. This is a result of secrets and the tidbits that do get out and then things get twisted by limited knowledge and half truths.

This is what did the Templars in . Starting off as a holy mission to protect CHristians in the Holyland. THe knights had a strict code to live by. They did not always adhere to this perfectly. After all they were humans with flaws. They had a banking system and acquire great wealth. Becoming a knight Templar could be prerofitable. In the end they had secrets and Sony enough a French king was in debt and with a corrupt pope in Cahoots they destroyed the Templars with claims of Blasphemy and idol worship. The society was destroyed . Some say that the Templars or survivors morphed into the Masons. THey have their own history. Read the book and find out.
The book covers a whole gamut of these societies. There is the usual Illuminati, Masons and your Templars etc. Among them are the Triads, Tongs and Yakuza and let us not forget the Mafia. Many of these criminal organizations started out with good intentions, like protecting people from oppressive outside forces only later they turn themselves into vehicle of suppression and crime.

These days peopple are overly paranoid about secret societies and they control over their lives. In reality they do not have that much influence over our lives. People network all the time. We call that friendship or alliances happens in all/ organizations. How secret are these secret so0cieties. May of us know their rituals and secret handshakes . The secret is out.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshingly skeptical while still being interesting. Reynolds covers an excellent range of organizations.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a non-fiction, academic facsimile, skeptic's tract, remarkably readable. Mostly the author is pretty good at not pointing fingers and saying "this is evil". There is a bibliography of sorts at the end, not what I've seen before and not particularly extensive, but he isn't making any new arguments here; it's more an overview of the public histories of various cultures. Fun read.

[Alona · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is informative, well researched and at times, pretty entertaining. However, the title is somewhat misleading. The anthology is as much about the secret societies per se as it is about the myths, legends, speculations, and charlatans that are associated with them. Then again, secret societies are not called clandestine for nothing.

[Noureddin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cumulative impact of these secret societies is enormously felt . One has to ponder how human tragedies are unfolding according to these hidden , secret cults and societies . The book , in my opinion, is well - timed .

[Arminius · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is an interesting look at so called secret societies. The oddest of the stories told was that Mary Magdalene went to France and bore a baby who was Jesus Christ’s supposed lineage. The offspring of these were supposed blessed with Super powers and became World leaders. Leonardo da Vinci was supposedly one of these blessed people. Another odd story is the Skull and Bones society of Yale University. Apparently once you are initiated into the group you must steal license plates with the number 322 on them plus steal a skull from a grave to put in their room. The author surmises that the Bay of Pigs fiasco was planned out by Skull and Bones members Richard Drain, McGeorge Bundy and William Bundy. The author said that this blunder caused the boosting of Cuba prestige among the Third World nations, highlighted Fidel Castro’s claims of American Imperialism, and lead to the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 1960’s.

It is a very interesting book which I enjoyed reading.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember buying this book because the title made me snort. A book on secret societies felt like an amusing contradiction, so I gave in to the curious amusement. Non-Fiction is not my first choice for an entertaining read. It took substantial effort to get through this one. Still, I can respect the amount of research put into it, as well as the distinction between what's real and what's not. I did learn new things (and new words, yay! Not that I'm likely to use "apocryphal" in a sentence, but eh, the more you know) and gained new insights on things I thought I knew so, not a waste, and I'll likely keep it.

Some important notes that bear mentioning: reviews are highly subjective, including mine. My opinion is meant to give an overview of what I saw/felt when I read it. What I see might not be what you see, and what I like might not be what you enjoy, which is fine. My advice to anyone looking into a book? Read the premise; if it interests you enough, give it a chance, and it may surprise you—or not, but at least then, you'll know.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s amazing what you find on Prime Reading.

This book outlines secret societies ancient and modern. From the deadly Assassins to the benign Druids to the American-born Skull & Crossbones. If a society has graced the pages of a Dan Brown book, it’s probably dissected in this one.

Perhaps the most fascinating part of the book was at the end when it delved into WHY people are fascinated with conspiracies and secret societies. The author theorizes that the truth is often more uncomfortable- and it’s easier to theorize that there’s a cabal of elites plotting world destruction than to admit that some events are just freak accidents, or the results of mankind’s errors.

There’s enough fake news going around today that the last chapter seems timely, and the most important. I enjoyed learning about the Yakuza, Mafia, and religious secret societies (love me a good Dan Brown book!) but I found myself wishing that the last chapter was just a tad bit longer.

[Lara Giesbers · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The more things you know, or pretend to know, the more powerful you are. It doesn't matter if the things are true. What counts, remember, is to possess a secret." - Umberto Eco

I was drawn to this book for the title first, and the price second. It was sitting on a discount table, but the title stood out a mile away for me. I never knew much about secret societies, and so I decided to educate myself. Within the pages of this book, you will learn the beginning roots of some of the most whispered about groups such as the Illuminati, Priory of Scion, or Knights Templar. These are just a few of the groups John Lawrence Reynolds tackles in his book. This book is excellent reading for anyone interested in these secret groups such as the true beginning of Cosa Nostra, what the Yakuza is, and whether or not we really should fear Witches and Druids. Sounds too incredible to believe? Sometimes what is believed as fact is just as fascinating as the wildest fantasy fiction ever written.

[Nick Riba-Ramírez · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredibly comprehensive, refreshingly skeptic, wonderfully written, intelligently, scarcastically, and humorously interpreted information by the author. i absolutely loved his take on the information he gathered in the process of writing this book. he manages to sneak sarcastic remarks, surprising statistics, and entertaining jokes all in one extremely well written book. i also loved the way information was presented: he gave you the facts, interpreted it from a skeptic perspective, then played devil’s advocate. it was incredibly detailed and overall an extremely comprehensive historical and modern take on secret societies.

[Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book that I'm not quite finished with yet. I'm impressed with the way the author melds connections and it stays fascinating from page 1. If you have an interest in secret societies, this will be an enjoyable read.

[David Chandran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written, largely academic and skeptical look at the the myths and facts surrounding a number of secret society legends. Great reference for when arguing with your conspiracy theorist friends...

[Adam Bricker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and level handed

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very good “road trip” read. It’s very basic and highlights well known “secret” societies. Imagine it as being a series you might watch on The History Channel.

[Ingrida Lisauskiene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visada man patiko knygos apie paslaptingas draugijas, istorinius įvykius ir asmenybes. Gal todėl ir esu Hario Poterio, Dan Brown ir Mika Waltari knygų gerbėja. Labai dau tikėjausi iš knygos, narstančios garsiausias slaptas organizacijas: tamplierius, iliuminatus, masonus, Siono vienuolyną, rozenkreicerius, triadas, cosa nostra, jakudzas, „Kaukolę ir kaulus“ bei daugybę kitų. Rezultatas - sausoka, šiek tiek panašu į vadovėlį. O norėjosi intrigos, va

[Daunte Gaiter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got scared reading this book so I stopped for a little bit. Like they were talking about this Illuminati and Mafia and FBI stuff......making me nervous. Like, have y'all (excuse my Texan) ever looked out your blinds and locked your doors before reading something? That was me reading this book. But yeah it was informative and good.

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some good chapters and some bad chapters about the "secret societies" that exist. Some of the interesting chapters were The Assasins, which have now grown into Al Qaeda, the Templars, Illuminati and Freemasons, Priory of Sion, Rosicucians and Skull and Bones. The Skull and Bones chapter was probably the best chapter in the book. Then there were chapters that were on witches, the mafia, wise guys, Chinese gangs that I don't really think are secret societies, but he had them there to fill pages. Those chapters were ok to read. At the end of the book the author kindo of talked out loud about a few things that were both interesting, but then also pointed out a lot how people are so misinformed about things and how some people need to have these conspiracies for people to funciton or something... Like I said some good chapters that were interesting and actually good, then some others that could have probably been skipped. It equals out to being ok of a book.

And one thing is for sure. This guys does not like Dan Brown or any of his books.

[Ethan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some decent light reading (also, it's free on Kindle Unlimited!). It provides a great debunking of many of the most popular secret societies. Spoiler alert: Almost every juicy secret society, whether having an ancient basis or not, exploded in popularity because of a con man (in the case of two, the same man was involved in both).

While I don't doubt the level of research done, I would have preferred a more in depth look at a few societies, their beliefs, and their history, rather than a quick rundown on many. The inclusion of organized crime groups is also confusing, since I'm not sure anyone actually denies their existence.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this work of nonfiction, very detailed information about each topic/group ranging from the backstory, the legend bred from secrecy, and where the line of reality (based on what can be proven / is documented) is drawn.

I thought some of his commentary on the ridiculousness of certain conspiracies was at best unnecessary and at worst far fetched. I also listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator is a bit flat.

Overall though I appreciate the information taken from this work.

[Sekhar N Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very edifying

It covers lot of ground and gives valuable information on well known topics. I mostly liked the chapter on “ Bones and Skull “. In connection with my job, I was associated with Yale University for at least eight years. I heard about this society and saw the building, but never cared to know about its activities.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Lawrence Reynolds gives synopses of many secret societies that have existed and may still exist at the date of the book's publications. He provides an opinion on which ones are real, defunct, or just figments of imaginations. In conclusion, he takes on Skull &Bones and then creates a conspiracy of his own after pooh-poohing most of the societies. Interesting but not too enlightening.

[hazbin_nuggets · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright. Most of the chapters were interesting, but the writer talks more about the history and origins of these secret societies. It's not really what I was looking for, but it was still interesting to read about. Skull and Bones is by far the most interesting chapter.

[Heather Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can get past the author's pompous tone of voice, this is an incredibly interesting and informative book! Provided a great overview of everything and taught me a thing or two about world history.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fact check everything in this book. The majority of it could be true, but I don't trust it. The book does not accurately evaluate or portray Christians in several areas. Ultimately, this book is a waste of time. Better to do your own research.

[Shanelle Holt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really intersting things in here...

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Full of history. It wasn't what I expected I had expected but was even better.

[David Tole · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible book