false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170420798m/53324.jpg 53324 7 <p> <br />Less than 50,000 years ago mankind had no art, no religion, no sophisticated symbolism, no innovative thinking. Then, in a dramatic and electrifying change, described by scientists as "the greatest riddle in human history," all the skills and qualities that we value most highly in ourselves appeared already fully formed, as though bestowed on us by hidden powers. In <em>Supernatural</em> Graham Hancock sets out to investigate this mysterious "before-and-after moment" and to discover the truth about the influences that gave birth to the modern human mind. </p> <p> <br />Hancock's quest takes him on a detective journey from the stunningly beautiful painted caves of prehistoric France, Spain, and Italy to rock shelters in the mountains of South Africa, where he finds extraordinary Stone Age art. He uncovers clues that lead him to the depths of the Amazon rainforest to drink the powerful hallucinogen Ayahuasca with shamans, whose paintings contain images of "super-natural beings" identical to the animal-human hybrids depicted in prehistoric caves. Hallucinogens such as mescaline also produce visionary encounters with exactly the same beings. </p> <p> <br />Scientists at the cutting edge of consciousness research have begun to consider the possibility that such hallucinations may be real perceptions of other "dimensions." Could the "supernaturals" first depicted in the painted caves be the ancient teachers of mankind? Could it be that human evolution is not just the "meaningless" process that Darwin identified, but something more purposive and intelligent that we have barely begun to understand?</p> 1139660 2005 Supernatural: Meetings with the Ancient Teachers of Mankind total:106|5:36|4:46|3:15|2:8|1:1| 106 426 195 24 5 3 false false Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sun Nov 04 18:22:43 -0800 2007 Sat Nov 17 03:51:58 -0800 2007
This book talks about altered states of consciousness, ayahuasca ("vision ...more...]]> 2 2 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sat Nov 10 22:03:17 -0800 2007 Sat Jan 19 20:03:41 -0800 2008 Amazon.com

"Hancock repeats himself over and over ad nauseum to drive his point home, but the book can be condensed down to this: Alien abductions = fairy abductions = shamanic spirit journeys. Increased levels (either naturally or artificially induced) of DMT ...more...]]> 5 1 false false Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Thu Mar 29 13:01:32 -0700 2007 Thu Mar 29 13:02:33 -0700 2007
Well Graham Hancock "tak...more...]]> 4 1 false false Sat Jan 26 10:55:29 -0800 2008 Sat Jan 26 11:00:37 -0800 2008 more...]]> 5 1 false false Sun May 18 03:26:06 -0700 2008 Sun May 18 03:27:23 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Sat Aug 16 07:34:06 -0700 2008 Sat Aug 16 08:03:29 -0700 2008 Although extensively researched, the book is at times erratic and...more...]]> 4 0 true false Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Thu Apr 24 09:48:24 -0700 2008 Thu Apr 24 10:01:10 -0700 2008
I didn't like Supernatural quite as much as I did Fingerprints, but it is a good one nonetheless.

Hancock is a good researcher, and he does a lot of interviewing, reading, and traveling...more...]]> 1 0 false false Tue Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 03 23:31:25 -0700 2009 Tue Aug 11 23:16:32 -0700 2009 Fingerprints of the Gods is even worse in this book: Boring adventures of the author, long winded repetition.

I am hoping my friend who got this for me lets me know that there is nothing more shocking than the idea that hallucinogens were responsible for early ...more...]]> 2 0 false false Thu Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 15 16:12:13 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 10 09:31:43 -0700 2009
From this book, it is obvious that Graham Hancock is a believer in the supernatural. He uses the common hallucinations of ghosts, goblins, fairies, elves and aliens to explain that drugs can get reg...more...]]> 3 0 false false Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Mar 03 13:55:50 -0800 2009 Tue Mar 03 14:04:42 -0800 2009 350 pages too long (con)
Absurd assertations (con)
Can't decide who his audience is (con)

Very interesting and largely ignored subject matter (pro)
Great hypothesis (pro)
Great synthesis of other people's ideas (pro)
Raise...more...]]> 5 0 false false Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sun Oct 28 20:26:34 -0700 2007 Sun Oct 28 20:36:26 -0700 2007 hancock picks up where terence mckenna left off with a more familiar background in ancient civilizations
and picks up where rick strassman couldnt safely go any further for the sake of his academic career

anyone interested in the progr...more...]]> 0 0 false false Thu Dec 04 20:12:09 -0800 2008 Thu Dec 04 20:13:42 -0800 2008 2 0 true false Mon Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri May 23 19:24:54 -0700 2008 Mon Aug 11 10:38:32 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 0 false true Wed Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Wed Feb 18 09:27:01 -0800 2009 Wed Mar 18 19:18:17 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Sat Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Fri May 16 16:09:57 -0700 2008 Sat Dec 27 18:29:06 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Jun 22 17:25:17 -0700 2008 Fri Aug 14 14:42:44 -0700 2009
In true Hancock fashion he plants little seeds of curiosity and then points out the truth and fiction. I just...more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Mar 30 18:54:42 -0700 2008 Sun Mar 30 18:58:04 -0700 2008 However, by the end of the book it seems that the historical accuracy becomes secondary in nature to describing certain human mysteries and their possible correlation with earthly substances and the spiritual meani...more...]]> 3 0 false false Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Mon Oct 22 09:48:07 -0700 2007 Wed Oct 24 00:52:39 -0700 2007 Just in time for Thanksgiving table conversation....
But I am giving it 3 stars because this author just loves writing about what a bad ass he is. I like his ideas, but the Indiana Jones things gets kind of old after a while.]]> 4 0 false false Tue Jul 01 13:51:25 -0700 2008 Tue Jul 01 13:56:27 -0700 2008 5 0 false false Tue Apr 29 19:16:28 -0700 2008 Wed Apr 30 00:57:44 -0700 2008 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=53324