Earth in Upheaval

by Immanuel Velikovsky

In this epochal book, Immanuel Velikovsky, one of the great scientists of modern times, puts the complete histories of our Earth and of humanity on a new basis. He presents the results of his 10-year-long interdisciplinary research in an easily understandable, even entertaining manner. Inspite - or even because - of the disgraceful hostility, provoked by his theories, this book keeps being of ardent topicality, which in the light of recent scientific research is even growing. Earth in Upheaval - a very exactly investigated and easily understandable book - contains material that completely revolutionizes our view of the history of the earth. For all those who have ever wondered about the evolution of the earth, the formation of mountains and oceans, the origin of coal or fossils, the question of the ice ages and the history of animal and plant species, Earth in Upheaval is a MUST-READ!

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, History, Pseudoscience, Historical, Mythology, Geology

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Immanuel Velikovsky was a Russian-born American independent scholar, best known as the author of a number of controversial books reinterpreting the events of ancient history, in particular the US bestseller Worlds in Collision, published in 1950. Earlier, he played a role in the founding of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, and was a respected psychiatrist and psychoanalyst.

His books use comparative mythology and ancient literary sources (including the Bible) to argue that Earth has suffered catastrophic close-contacts with other planets (principally Venus and Mars) in ancient times. In positioning Velikovsky among catastrophists including Hans Bellamy, Ignatius Donnelly, and Johann Gottlieb Radlof[2], the British astronomers Victor Clube and Bill Napier noted ". . . Velikovsky is not so much the first of the new catastrophists . . . ; he is the last in a line of traditional catastrophists going back to mediaeval times and probably earlier." Velikovsky argued that electromagnetic effects play an important role in celestial mechanics. He also proposed a revised chronology for ancient Egypt, Greece, Israel and other cultures of the ancient Near East. The revised chronology aimed at explaining the so-called "dark age" of the eastern Mediterranean (ca. 1100 – 750 BCE) and reconciling biblical history with mainstream archeology and Egyptian chronology.

In general, Velikovsky's theories have been vigorously rejected or ignored by the academic community. Nonetheless, his books often sold well and gained an enthusiastic support in lay circles, often fuelled by claims of unfair treatment for Velikovsky by orthodox academia. The controversy surrounding his work and its reception is often referred to as "the Velikovsky affair".

Reviews

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

History is made by the masses primarily, but also by great men and especially by intense cranks. Immanuel Velikovsky, today buried under a generation of sediments, was perhaps the defining crank of the mid 20th century. Briefly summarized: educated as a psychoanalyst, he aimed to one-up Freud's Moses and monotheism with his own Oedipus and Akhenaton. Freud wanted to show that Moses was a historical figure whose life provided essential and enduring psychological clues as to the psychological structure of judeo-christianity. Velikovsky wanted to show that Egyptian and Jewish myths are both historical and overlap to a large degree, names and dates jumbled up out of the desire to carve out their own cultural space. To make timelines fit, Velikovsky had to upend accepted archeological knowledge and reorder historical chronology.

Any crank would do that on a Tuesday, but Velikovsky went far beyond. The conspiracy to hide the truth wasn’t just confined to historiography, but extended to astronomy, geology, evolutionary biology and even the most elementary physics. The planets in the solar system have only very recently assumed their places, wreaking havoc on earth as they wobbled through our vicinity. Evolution primarily happens during these times of great upheaval; Darwin was too "uniformitarian" to see this. Gravity isn't a thing, it's all static electricity. Even with the benefit of 21st century hindsight, it's impressive how much Velikovsky staked on every established branch of science being wilfully wrong.

Obviously reading the book is senseless. Earth in Upheaval was the specific attempt to ground his theories in hard sciences, eschewing any reference to religion or cultural memory. This also means it's quite boring to a layman, V. producing one cherrypicked challenge to accepted science after another. If there was a uniform Ice Age, then why did northern Siberia escape this fate? Did the Incas build a city above the altitude where crops can take, or did the Andean mountains shoot up in our recent history? Fossilized fish look frightened, doesn't that show they were killed by a cosmic tsunami? Man I don't know, but the argumentative structure behind this text is too reminiscent of negationism or lazy "counterhistory": poke credible holes in a given narrative, supplant with a completely different story, held to no standards.

To the degree that Velikovsky had a point (ie, catastrophes were undervalued in explaining earth development), he was being superceded as he wrote. It's humbling to realize that "a meteor killed the dinosaurs" was only accepted at the tail end of the 20th century. But mostly it's a testament to how you shouldn't let a hurt ego drive you into ever more contrarian positions. Even the most successful cranks are forgotten within a generation. I'll be sure to take this lesson to heart, right after I manage to publically prove my many perverted opponents wrong.

[Michael]

Very deep reading. Very interesting the amount of questions that science has quit asking.

[Kerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In its way this book is as interesting as Worlds in Collision; however, I found Worlds of Collision to be more compelling because of the inclusion of the human historical documentation along with the cold scientific facts, which is why I gave this four stars instead of five.

What stood out in this volume was how much flack he must have taken by the butthurt priests of the scientific paradigm for him tearing the guts out of their beloved dogmatic theories, because he mentioned more than once he was leaving the human historical documentation out of this volume expressly because of the outcry following Worlds in Collision. Which is unfortunate as I think the inclusion of that information as well would have made this that much more interesting.

[Derek W. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though many of the ideas (if not all) in this book have been since disproved, it is still interesting to see the views of the time and the reasoning behind them.

Worth a read if you actually know earth processes and history to see the logic behind the incorrect theories, but I wouldn't recommend if this is your first exposure to such topics.

[Nandakishore Mridula · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another theorist of the same ilk as Erich von Daniken. However, his book was much more entertaining, though equally wonky.

[Ruth]

INTERESTING HYPOTHESES

[Dan Banana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most science related earth studies ever compiled in one overly scientific fact fest of words put forth in a mesmerizing manner. Pretty sure the next ice age and the end of time is near or that everything is just fine. This is a science guy science festival of historic visionaries of indepth thought and way too heavy if you wear a red hat.

[Jason Snelgrove]

“Earth in Upheaval" by Immanuel Velikovsky offers readers a fascinating and controversial perspective on the geological history of our planet. Velikovsky's groundbreaking theories challenge traditional scientific explanations, inviting readers to question established narratives and consider alternative possibilities.

In "Earth in Upheaval," Velikovsky delves into various geological phenomena, ranging from earthquakes and volcanic activity to the formation of mountains and the shifting of continents. He presents evidence from different cultures and historical records, suggesting that cataclysmic events have shaped Earth's history in ways that diverge from conventional scientific explanations.

Velikovsky's writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, drawing readers into his meticulous research and thought processes. He presents his ideas in a logical and well-structured manner, often employing interdisciplinary perspectives to support his arguments. While some may find his theories controversial, Velikovsky's work challenges readers to question the status quo and explore the potential for paradigm shifts in scientific understanding.

One of the strengths of "Earth in Upheaval" is Velikovsky's ability to synthesize historical accounts and geological data, illuminating connections between seemingly disparate events. He draws upon ancient myths, religious texts, and scientific observations to propose a grand narrative of Earth's turbulent past. This multidisciplinary approach adds depth and intrigue to the book, encouraging readers to consider alternative interpretations of geological phenomena.

However, it's important to note that Velikovsky's theories have been met with skepticism and criticism within the scientific community. Some argue that his reliance on ancient texts and historical accounts, often interpreted metaphorically, may overlook the rigorous scientific methodologies used in modern geological research.

Readers should approach "Earth in Upheaval" with an open mind and a willingness to engage in critical thinking. Velikovsky's theories should be seen as stimulating intellectual exercises rather than universally accepted scientific truths.

“Earth in Upheaval" is a thought-provoking and controversial exploration of Earth's geological mysteries. Immanuel Velikovsky's interdisciplinary approach and meticulous research make this book a captivating read for those interested in alternative theories and paradigm shifts within the scientific community. While not without its detractors, "Earth in Upheaval" challenges readers to question conventional wisdom and embrace the ongoing quest for knowledge and understanding.

[Herman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Earth in upheaval puts forth the argument of a earth formed over time by a series of natural catastrophes as appose to the doctrine of Uniformity which was a theory that is associated with the views of Charles Darwin in the 19th century. It gives example after example from all over the world demonstrating how the science does not support a long gradual process for producing the world we find today. The most surprising part of the book has to do with the contention that ice age Paleolithic times were far more recent ending in some areas just three or four thousand years ago. I found this book especially interesting because it’s a snapshot of cutting edge science taken sixty years ago. Dr. Einstein in the last months of his life read the manuscript and supplied marginal notes. Science is not my strong field of knowledge, but I am aware of many recent discoveries that may not have been known by Dr. Velikovsky when he wrote this book, such as the discovery of a likely Comet strike in Southern Canada some 6 to 8 thousand years ago, or additional findings showing North America being inhabited 20 to 30 thousand years ago. Or just the field of DNA science which was unknown at that time. I’m sure there are many other examples like I said science is not my area of knowledge. The theory of Catastrophic causation for things like fossils and footprints makes me wonder about some I have seen in Northern Arizona and Montana While Volcanic activity seems the likely cause and Navajo mountain was in the area, in Montana there appeared to be nothing no dormant volcano nearby that have caused such an event, could it have been related to a Yellowstone eruption? Or in Arizona would meteor impact crater have been large enough to kill animals 300 miles away?
Book is a little dated but it can still make you think. Final thoughts Revelations 6:12-14 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
Immanuel Velikovsky Earth in Upheaval p:237,....Mountains sprang from plains, and other mountains were leveled; strata of the terrestrial crust were folded and pressed together and overturned and moved and put on top of other formations, igneous rock melted and flooded enormous areas of land with miles-thick sheets; the ocean bed flowed with molten rock; ashes showered down and built layers many yards thick on the ground and on the bottom of the oceans in their vast expanse; shores of ancient lakes were tilted and are no longer horizontal;
and finally Ghostbusters 1983
MAYOR
What do you mean, biblical?

RAY
What he means is Old Testament biblical, Mr. Mayor. Real wrath-of-God-type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming from the sky! Rivers and seas boiling!

EGON
Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes! Volcanoes!

WINSTON
The dead rising from the grave!

PETER
Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!

MAYOR
Enough! I get the point!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not read anything from this author before, but his knowledge and detail are far better than some of the contemporary authors like Erich von Daniken or Zach Sitchin.
His explanation starts with the Theory of Continuity first advance in 1785. Then scientists believed that the surface of the globe has not changed with any disturbances, except by very slow change. This idea is remarkable, because many scientits today cannot admit that our world has gone through at least seven catastrophies, some of which have clearly occured in the last 4,000 years.
Recommended reading for anyone who wants to know more about how our planet and how climate has changed in the past.

[Scott Collingwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and thought-provoking book based on a lot observational evidence on an epic scale. This makes it especially ideal for the geography and geology inclined. The book cogently illustrates the modern myth of terrestrial certainty and stability vividly.

Earth in Upheaval by Immanuel Velikovsky is a 5/5 - it contains a lot of information about Earth that seems important to remember.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this follow-up volume to WORLDS IN COLLISION, Velikovsky presents only the physical evidence of earth's relatively recent upheavals, with none of the ancient tablets and legends that were dismissed by scientist opponents as useless. Again, he makes a strong case. He also reviews the development of the nothing-happens-quickly school of geology and applies his professional psychoanalyst skills to the reason it took hold.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is considered fringe by many and people will say it's debunked. But that's not true I've found. There's still a debate going on.

In any case, just read the book and decide for yourself. It's very interesting either way. And the whole theory is awesome and wild. I'd say start with Worlds in Collision though.

[Teri Gaddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A scientist and researcher into the ancient text, civilizations, etc. His works first published in 1950 were critized (mostly by the c. community because they told a different story than the c. bible) are today respected. There are documentary videos on him on Utube that are very interesting.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book and found it interesting and grabing. It's new take on the history of the earth and even if incorrect it's facinating.

[Cathryn Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mind blowing. Cannot be close-minded after this one unless it's your unrelenting choice.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just has good has Worlds in Collisions, some think impossible, but maybe not since we can not go back.

[Mahala · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Velikovsky challenges contemporary thinking on human history that is more speculative the further we delve back into the realms of time. Love his thinking!

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the comapnion book to Worlds in Collision. Again a read a million. I have readl all of IVs books several times.

[Tim Malone]

Been wanting to read this for a long time, just haven't set aside the time to focus. It's a classic that I want to understand from Velikovsky's work that will help me in writing my own book.

[Lee Belbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Game changer!

[Jeremy]

R. C. Sproul mentions this book positively in his December 2016 Message of the Month.

[Jackie Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Velikovsky. Great alternative histories acurate to historical evidence.