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The Master Game: Unmasking the Secret Rulers of the World
The Master Game is a roller-coaster intellectual journey through the back streets and rat runs of history to uncover the traces in architecture and monuments of a secret religion that has shaped the world.
Pivotal historical events and processes, not least the Renaissance, the birth of scientific rationalism, and the French and American revolutions, are radically re-evaluated in the light of new investigative evidence presented in The Master Game. Even the belief that the United States has a "global mission," so obvious today, may ultimately prove to be less the result of a short-term reaction to terrorism than the inevitable working out of a covert plan originally set in motion almost two thousand years ago.
The Master Game refers to a scheme or "game" played on the world stage to bring about a world order governed by a lofty goal which, today, we term the "Masonic Ideal." The Master Game traces the origins of this game of symbols and words and talismans from ancient Egypt all the way to modern times, and places it squarely on the elitist Scottish Rite Freemasonry, headquartered in Washington, DC, and ruled by a secretive and powerful brotherhood of men who have attained the thirty-third degree. The Master Game exposes this world order's true purpose and, more importantly, shows how it has affected the United States of America and badly backfired on 9/11.
The book is adapted and expanded from the authors' earlier, out-of-print book Talisman.
Graham Hancock and Robert Bauval are the best-selling authors of such groundbreaking books as Fingerprints of the Gods (Hancock) and The Orion Mystery (Bauval).
Pivotal historical events and processes, not least the Renaissance, the birth of scientific rationalism, and the French and American revolutions, are radically re-evaluated in the light of new investigative evidence presented in The Master Game. Even the belief that the United States has a "global mission," so obvious today, may ultimately prove to be less the result of a short-term reaction to terrorism than the inevitable working out of a covert plan originally set in motion almost two thousand years ago.
The Master Game refers to a scheme or "game" played on the world stage to bring about a world order governed by a lofty goal which, today, we term the "Masonic Ideal." The Master Game traces the origins of this game of symbols and words and talismans from ancient Egypt all the way to modern times, and places it squarely on the elitist Scottish Rite Freemasonry, headquartered in Washington, DC, and ruled by a secretive and powerful brotherhood of men who have attained the thirty-third degree. The Master Game exposes this world order's true purpose and, more importantly, shows how it has affected the United States of America and badly backfired on 9/11.
The book is adapted and expanded from the authors' earlier, out-of-print book Talisman.
Graham Hancock and Robert Bauval are the best-selling authors of such groundbreaking books as Fingerprints of the Gods (Hancock) and The Orion Mystery (Bauval).
576 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2011
85 people are currently reading
890 people want to read
About the author
Graham Hancock
126 books4,097 followersGraham Hancock is a British writer and journalist. His books include Lords of Poverty, The Sign and the Seal, Fingerprints of the Gods, Keeper of Genesis (released in the US as Message of the Sphinx), The Mars Mystery, Heaven's Mirror (with wife Santha Faiia), Underworld: The Mysterious Origins of Civilization, Talisman: Sacred Cities, Secret Faith (with co-author Robert Bauval), Supernatural: Meeting with the Ancient Teachers of Mankind and Magicians of the Gods. He also wrote and presented the Channel 4 documentaries Underworld: Flooded Kingdoms of the Ice Age and Quest for the Lost Civilisation. His first novel, Entangled, was published in 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 19, 2012
There are plenty of books out there focused on shadow organizations supposedly controlling the world economy and governments, but this book (most focusing on groups going back as far as ancient Egypt) blames it on the worship of Isis.
This odd assertion is heavily documented with a remarkable perception of historical events, personages, and location. There is the inevitable accusation against Freemasonry, the unsurprising blame at the Roman Church, and the inclusion of inference that there was a sinister purpose behind the symmetry of cities like Paris and Washington, DC.
"The Master Game" is a fascinating study in paranoia. There is an immense amount of historical information, useful once the facade of unreasoning fear is stripped away. I give it four stars for that alone. If I were to measure it on its logical processes, I would give it less than one.
This odd assertion is heavily documented with a remarkable perception of historical events, personages, and location. There is the inevitable accusation against Freemasonry, the unsurprising blame at the Roman Church, and the inclusion of inference that there was a sinister purpose behind the symmetry of cities like Paris and Washington, DC.
"The Master Game" is a fascinating study in paranoia. There is an immense amount of historical information, useful once the facade of unreasoning fear is stripped away. I give it four stars for that alone. If I were to measure it on its logical processes, I would give it less than one.
November 16, 2011
The Catholic Church: Evil; Gnostics/Cathars: Good. Revealed Truth: Evil; Relativism: Good. Conservatism: Evil; Liberalism: Good. Christianity: Evil; Islam: not too bad. Freemasons were behind the French and American revolutions. Freemasons were inspired by Egyptian lore. Egyptian monuments are built according to certain plans and ratios. Washington DC is built according to Masonic principles, which is in turn based on Egyptian principles.[return][return]There you have it: Hancock's The Master Game (~600 pages) in a nutshell. Nothing new, just the same old rehashed info you've read a hundred times before.
February 11, 2012
The book started out strong... and there's nary a mention of the Masons for quite some time. But then the authors begin to travel the same ground trodden recently be so many others, and the promised revealing of the "Master Game" is an empty one. Much is suggested and hinted at, but nothing is ultimately revealed or "Unmasked".
March 30, 2017
I would have given this four stars if the authors had not seemed to lose their way during the last quarter of the book. It became tedious reading bouncing and bumbling through time. However, the last few chapters on more recent events were fascinating and probably could do with a book of their own.
The Master Game positions itself as an account of two warring ideologies but only broaches the subject in the last hundred pages or so. The sole focus seemed on the Masonic ideologies and workings (with a heavy emphasis on architecture of course) but only presented the conflicts and complex realities of the Jewish and Muslim worlds at the end...in just a few short pages.
It was entertaining for the most part - but clearly not what I was expecting. It's hardly an "alternative history" either. It veers into the realm of speculation rarely and with little effect. But the information presented in solid and decently sourced.
This book could have been so much better than it was. But it was still worth the read - though don't expect it to be a light read.
The Master Game positions itself as an account of two warring ideologies but only broaches the subject in the last hundred pages or so. The sole focus seemed on the Masonic ideologies and workings (with a heavy emphasis on architecture of course) but only presented the conflicts and complex realities of the Jewish and Muslim worlds at the end...in just a few short pages.
It was entertaining for the most part - but clearly not what I was expecting. It's hardly an "alternative history" either. It veers into the realm of speculation rarely and with little effect. But the information presented in solid and decently sourced.
This book could have been so much better than it was. But it was still worth the read - though don't expect it to be a light read.
July 6, 2012
Whoa.. Very interesting and detailed book on the evolution of Christianity across the world, the incorporation of Egyptian beliefs/monuments in past & modern times and how this may all time in to secret societies, most importantly the infamous Freemasons. I found it fascinating and one of the more logical accounts on a society very few truly understand. I suggest you take a pen and pad with you on this journey, take notes and come to your own conclusion..
October 4, 2012
very well written book, imo...traced the evolution of the elites from Alex the Great all the way to the present...i found it fascinating....the Inquisition the Knights Templar and more....good job by a great author and researcher.....the Illuminati traced back and if one is open minded, one can see where the reptilians are present..heavy read...
January 6, 2013
I already read this under it's original title - TALISMAN ... a little sneaky trying to slip this one out again without letting the reader know it's a re=issue.
September 26, 2013
Having read books by both authors, this one is pretty rambling, yet still has some interesting information, if you like that kind of thing.
May 16, 2022
Haven't had exact idea of what I am about to read, but since Graham's books are familiar to me it felt promising. Now, after reading it all my feelings about it are little ambiguous.
I have to give both Graham and Robert that the book contains tremendous amount of historical data so as a sort of starting point for further research the book is just perfect. Regarding the rest it feels somehow superficial. The book basicly describe main historical players (Cathars, Bogomils, Hermetics, Machicheans etc.), the major characters and draws lines in between them. Sometimes drawing the lines is so exhausting one feels like putting the book away and screaming. Again, hats off to boh autors for working with such huge amount of data. But what I am missing here is some conclusion. It feels like more like travel guide showing you how to get here and there but missing some backstory, some deeper understanding of especially latest events described in the book. Particularly: what other connection is there between the "old cults" (i.e.Cathars, Bogomils, Manicheans) and "new cults" (Freemasons)? It feels like old cults valued wisdom and living in truth as the highest points of live while Masons extolled egyptian sciences(astrology, mathematics, geometry). Now what else is there?
Based on what's written it feels like that somewhere in 18th century something went wrong and Good things started to change into Evil ones - here I am pointing mainly to the end of the book speculating on Freemasons becoming archenemy of Islam.
In general I enjoyed the book very much despite it's sometimes tedious, pushing the dense bulk of data on reader. For me this is sort of one of first steps to understand this more yet I was hoping that after absorbing the book's content I would understand what was it about. Instead I feel like there's much more unanswered questions than at the beginning.
As for conspiracy potential of the book, there might be bit too much forays into the land of imagination and conspiracies but on the other hand authors had to work what's at hand and I can imagine there are not many books describing shady world events in great detail so one should take the book as a sort of investigation with some room for doubts.
I have to give both Graham and Robert that the book contains tremendous amount of historical data so as a sort of starting point for further research the book is just perfect. Regarding the rest it feels somehow superficial. The book basicly describe main historical players (Cathars, Bogomils, Hermetics, Machicheans etc.), the major characters and draws lines in between them. Sometimes drawing the lines is so exhausting one feels like putting the book away and screaming. Again, hats off to boh autors for working with such huge amount of data. But what I am missing here is some conclusion. It feels like more like travel guide showing you how to get here and there but missing some backstory, some deeper understanding of especially latest events described in the book. Particularly: what other connection is there between the "old cults" (i.e.Cathars, Bogomils, Manicheans) and "new cults" (Freemasons)? It feels like old cults valued wisdom and living in truth as the highest points of live while Masons extolled egyptian sciences(astrology, mathematics, geometry). Now what else is there?
Based on what's written it feels like that somewhere in 18th century something went wrong and Good things started to change into Evil ones - here I am pointing mainly to the end of the book speculating on Freemasons becoming archenemy of Islam.
In general I enjoyed the book very much despite it's sometimes tedious, pushing the dense bulk of data on reader. For me this is sort of one of first steps to understand this more yet I was hoping that after absorbing the book's content I would understand what was it about. Instead I feel like there's much more unanswered questions than at the beginning.
As for conspiracy potential of the book, there might be bit too much forays into the land of imagination and conspiracies but on the other hand authors had to work what's at hand and I can imagine there are not many books describing shady world events in great detail so one should take the book as a sort of investigation with some room for doubts.
May 18, 2019
Master Game is a thick book - some 1000 pages. It was a compelling and well researched read. Graham and Buval back up all their claims with well thought out and researched references. the book makes the claim that a secret cabal of initiated people take ancient knowledge of sacred geometry to plan and map out major cities throughout the world, suggesting a unified, grand plan. Interesting read.
February 19, 2019
If you are familiar with the topic, this will book will bring along additional well researched facts/details that will fill in gaps one may have in this field. Graham Hancock, like always, writes superbly, and the amount of historical detail he provides makes the book a a great read and resource.
December 14, 2017
Very interesting, full of information and many, many references. It gets hard to read though, feeling like academic article after academic article.
July 24, 2022
Extremely long, but interesting
November 19, 2015
A very long book, but it covers a long history from many angles and points of view, showing how the old beliefs of Egypt and beyond have fought to survive while the many attempts of other beliefs to wipe it out have only managed to drive it underground.,
It gives a very detailed history of the Cathars etc through the inquisition, the English and French revolutions, the freemasons, roseacrusions, illuminati and other off shoot societies and how they have taken over and steered society to where it is today where it's external manifestation is Zionism in it's struggle to rid the world of Islam and then lead us into a state of one world government, which they will control.
It gives a very detailed history of the Cathars etc through the inquisition, the English and French revolutions, the freemasons, roseacrusions, illuminati and other off shoot societies and how they have taken over and steered society to where it is today where it's external manifestation is Zionism in it's struggle to rid the world of Islam and then lead us into a state of one world government, which they will control.
January 26, 2016
I really admire and like Hancock and Bauvel but I just couldn't get into this book and it's something I was most interested in. I was disappointed in the book by two wonderful researchers and explorers.
June 25, 2014
Fascinating book. Interesting take on history
January 18, 2017
Good book. It got a little tedious at times and I was looking for more current info, but I love Graham Hancock and think he does a tremendous amount for the truth community.
Read
April 29, 2015Interesting, long, much detail.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews