Freemasonry: Its History and Myths Revealed

by Giles Morgan

Metro Books/ Sterling 192 pages hardcover w/ dust jacket.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Occult, Religion

192 pages, Hardcover

First published May 24, 2007

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly this is just like any other Freemason book that I have read. Anyone interested in these books should read In search of knights Templar.

[Jay Bee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was hoping this book would help me to understand Freemasonry, but it was a waste of time. An hour spent on Google would provide more information. Extremely disappointed. I got 3 of these books on sale at a Books A Million going out of business sale. Freemasonry, knights Templar, and Crusades. The book are visually appealing with many beautiful pictures but the text is disappointing. The Templar’s book was the best followed by the Crusades and my least favorite was the one on Freemasonry.

[Paul Groos · Rating 1 out of 5]

(Read the Dutch translation.)
A collection of Wikipedia-factoids in a richly (but not always relevantly) illustrated book. The author is clearly not a mason a based his book on one or two sources. The simple fact that a picture of emperor Augustus accompanies a text about Julius Caesar indicates many such mistakes. The translator has left the English versions of ancient names in the Dutch text. Another tell tale mistake. Useless book.

[Rachel Grepke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be an easy and understanding read. There are pictures to guide as well which is helpful when referencing certain people and places. While the writing and book itself is actually helpful and well done, I find the whole thing a bit confusing in places. Seems like the while of Freemasonry is shrouded in mystery, confusion and frankly, spiritually disconcerting. I suppose my issue is more with the group than the book, but one can be a reflection of the other.

[David Mackey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book starts off mundanely enough with descriptions of the clothing and other apparatus of the Freemasons as well as its various rituals in a level of detail I was not particularly looking for...but then the book picks up speed and is quite good for much of the remainder. Overall, a decent read.

[Ethan Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is alright, but can we talk about the image on page 166 of the dollar bill with all of the hamburgers, donuts, basketballs, and football helmets? This, plus the plethora of typos throughout the entire thing makes me wonder if Morgan had any editors.

[William Lozano-Rivas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple, poco informativo pero bien presentado.

[Kaye Arnold · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what made me pick this up, but I guess it was educational. Not really my thing, but well written.

[Stefan · Rating 3 out of 5]

To the point, lacks a bit on modern structure of the freemasonry's organisations

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wel een interessant en mooi vormgegeven boek, maar de tekst is wat chaotisch geschreven waardoor de informatie minder goed bij mij blijft hangen.

[RJ Deeds · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always had an interest in the Holy Grail stories, Knights Templar, Priory of Zion and the evolution of Freemasonry from the ancients (symbolism goes back to Egyptian pharaohs). There is mythology and symbolism in all the stories, held together as they criss-cross each other over the ages. I'm not sure how well the book stands in its own right but it's not bad in filling in some of the gaps. It shows how it evolved in more recent centuries across Europe and the Americas. There is always the mystery around who is a member and how members secretly watch each others' backs, controlling the direction of world affairs. I'm not sure any of it has great substance - and certainly Giles Morgan doesn't add to that speculation. The book is for the mildly interested in a weird organisation that baffles many people.

[Kristyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

An HPB bargain read, which I found and thought might quench my desire to divulge all the secrets of Free-Masonry. I can't say that happened. A little at the end about a couple suscpicious "disappearances", but not enough satisfying details to convince me that the organization is a menace to society, like I hoped. The history was interesting, in a very brief, sometimes mundane, and leads-more-to-be-desired sort of way. But one of the final comments in the book just left me feeling sad. . . Free-Masonry is on the decline. . . not enough young people joining. Join people, join! We need our mysterious organizations cloaked in darkness!

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't find this book so fantastic, it has much information about the origin of the Freemasons but I would have liked some more info about what they actually do. Nothing in this book is references so it makes you wonder how true it is (even though I recognize much of the info from internet sources).

[Luis González · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le doy cuatro estrellas, ya que me encantó, la temática, como va desarrollando la historia masónica desde distintas etapas y muchos de los personajes ilustres que participaron en ella. Me hubiera gustado, sin embargo, saber más detalles de los rituales y del significado hermoso de cada una de sus metáforas, pero espero aprender más en otras fuentes.


Excelente libro.

[Hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good primer for anyone new to Freemasonry and a good refresher for anyone who might have forgotten why they joined. Much of Freemasonry is poorly understood even by those who cherish it. It's history and symbolism is as mysterious to the average member as it is to those who are not part of it. Freemasonry is a journey of inner transformation through rituals refined over the centuries.

[Vincent Cestaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is very interesting , it touches upon Quite a few aspects of the Freemasons and the images are great. Sometimes it explains things like the reader should already know other times it explains it well .

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives a nice overview of Freemasonry, its history and its symbolism, but it doesn't go any deeper than that. This isn't a page turner. The best part of the book is all the photographs and pictures, some beautiful imagery.

[Brian Hull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always been obsessed by this, ever since I was in college. This was good, but just an easy overview.

[Kim]

It was an easy read with lots of illustrations. It covers a lot of history in a "quick & dirty" manner. The book whet my appetite to delve a little deeper into some of it.

[Snufkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction

[Denisse Ascencio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considero un libro completo sobre el tema, además de interesante porque te sumerge en la investigación y su fundamentos, no sólo en especulaciones.

[Adrian De La Fuente]

Leve historia de los masones

[Liam O'nade]

The world of Freemasonry exerts a powerful influence on the modern imagination. In an age when perceived notions of history are being increasingly questioned and re-examined it is perhaps inevitable that secretive societies such as the Freemasons find themselves at the centre of considerable speculation and conjecture. To some they represent a powerful and shadowy elite who have manipulated world history throughout the ages, whilst to others they are an altogether more mundane and benign fraternal organisation. Giles Morgan begins by exploring the obscure and uncertain origins of Freemasonry. It has been variously argued that it derives from the practices of medieval stonemasons, that it dates to events surrounding the construction of the Temple of Solomon and that it is connected to ancient Mystery Cults.