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Secrets of the Lost Races
Secrets of the Lost Races Noorbergen, Rene
205 pages, Paperback
First published August 28, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 16, 2012
As far as I'm concerned, you have to go at books like this all out, with full suspension of disbelief and a great willingness to accept an awful lot of things that fight for other logical argument in your head whilst you're reading it. Fortunately, this, I can do.
I grew up reading von Däniken and similar in abundance, and this fits nicely into that sort of reading: although it's much more human-centric than von Däniken, it takes the same leap from premise to conclusion, and has that same boundless joy and amazement at its heart.
There's something wonderful about letting yourself go with every 'discovery', every idea, every 'perhaps' in this book, and, as with all similar books, personally, I'm more inclined to accept that there are as many grains of truth in there as there are red herrings. I know enough about some of the points to know that some of the author's conclusions are, in this case, mistaken, and his willingness to accept individual testimony as fact in some places spoils the author's method a little, but, still. I'm more than happy to say that that doesn't spoil it as a whole. There's plenty to wonder and ponder in this book, and it takes the mind to some fine places.
I also greatly appreciate the worldwide focus of this book, which includes the Americas, the Arctic, the Antarctic, Persia, Sumeria, the entire world, for a change, rather than simply Peru, or Mexico, or Egypt. The piecemeal construction makes it both easy and frustrating to read, for where you might want more detail, the next topic is quickly introduced, but at the same time, fascinating parallels are well-illustrated.
If you can come to this book without pre-conception and with your cynic's hat left firmly locked in the cupboard, there's plenty to reward. If not, you might want something with more facts and figures and 'evidence' than this offers.
July 3, 2015
I was given this book while I was on an LDS Mission in Australia 1980-1982. We were out tracking and the person who’s door we had knocked on asked me if I would read a book. I said that I would and gave him a Book of Mormon. I was able to read the book in a few days during my personal study time. Those who have been on LDS missions know that this may not have been completely following the rules, but I figured if I wanted the person who gave me the book to read the Book of Mormon I should read his book. I’m glad I read the book, and I’ve kept it for all these years.
This book gives another interpretation on Out Of Places Parts, or OOParts. These are things that should not exist and are ignored by “professional” archeologists. Things such as gold chains found in coal that is supposed to be 100s of millions of years old. Such a thing can not possibly exist so it is ignored when it is found, and explained away.
There are a lot of people who talk about these things and most of them say that aliens came to
Earth long ago and these things are evidence of that. The author of this book takes another viewpoint. He posits that there was a pre-flood civilization that had reached a level that they were able to fight nuclear wars. He points out that if people were living as long as is stated in the Bible that today we would have Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, Pascal, Maxwell, Einstein etc… living today. That’s some serious brain power. It’s a great way to look at things and it’s effected my thinking for many years especially about the flood. I grateful that that person gave me the book. I wish that he’d read the Book of Mormon,
This book gives another interpretation on Out Of Places Parts, or OOParts. These are things that should not exist and are ignored by “professional” archeologists. Things such as gold chains found in coal that is supposed to be 100s of millions of years old. Such a thing can not possibly exist so it is ignored when it is found, and explained away.
There are a lot of people who talk about these things and most of them say that aliens came to
Earth long ago and these things are evidence of that. The author of this book takes another viewpoint. He posits that there was a pre-flood civilization that had reached a level that they were able to fight nuclear wars. He points out that if people were living as long as is stated in the Bible that today we would have Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, Pascal, Maxwell, Einstein etc… living today. That’s some serious brain power. It’s a great way to look at things and it’s effected my thinking for many years especially about the flood. I grateful that that person gave me the book. I wish that he’d read the Book of Mormon,
November 17, 2019
The seeming roller coaster of the rise and fall of civilization is made even more questioning with “out-of-place artifacts” through into the mix. Secrets of the Lost Races by Rene Noorbergen examines these items and accounts from across the globe of modern-day technology to theorize that these are leftover knowledge from an antediluvian civilization that was slowly lost.
Using the early chapters of Genesis and very peculiar fossil finds, Noorbergen makes the case for the Biblical Flood then uses the same early Biblical chapters to make a case for a highly advanced civilization that the Ark survivors remembered enough to reboot civilization that would slowly decline as thousands of years past as the knowledge was slowly lost. Throughout the book Noorbergen tackles various issues from potentially ancient sourced maps of the globe before European explorers created their own, the apparent physical evidence of nuclear war in the ancient past along with texts describing it, and the supposed concurrent existence of Stone Age cave men and various civilizations that were suppose to be thousands of years apart.
To give this book a chance one must believe in the Biblical Flood or be willing to be open to it as well as be open to Noorbergen’s interruption with it; one also has to account with the fact that this book was originally published over 40 years ago with looking at the evidence especially since further research has discounted it (the Zeno brothers) or more of a question mark. Noorbergen is very insistent that the theories of von Daniken or Sitchin that advanced technology is from extraterrestrials doesn’t make sense even though his book is very much in their vain. Yet in trying to fit in so much in around 200 pages, Noorbergen misses out on better analytical explanations.
Secrets of the Lost Races is an intriguing use of evidence that “ancient astronaut” theorists have brought further to a different purpose. While Rene Noorbergen’s interest in the Flood and Noah’s Ark is various obvious, it doesn’t take away from his theory but adds emphasis to it. If you’re interested in an alternate view of history this is something you might be interested in.
Using the early chapters of Genesis and very peculiar fossil finds, Noorbergen makes the case for the Biblical Flood then uses the same early Biblical chapters to make a case for a highly advanced civilization that the Ark survivors remembered enough to reboot civilization that would slowly decline as thousands of years past as the knowledge was slowly lost. Throughout the book Noorbergen tackles various issues from potentially ancient sourced maps of the globe before European explorers created their own, the apparent physical evidence of nuclear war in the ancient past along with texts describing it, and the supposed concurrent existence of Stone Age cave men and various civilizations that were suppose to be thousands of years apart.
To give this book a chance one must believe in the Biblical Flood or be willing to be open to it as well as be open to Noorbergen’s interruption with it; one also has to account with the fact that this book was originally published over 40 years ago with looking at the evidence especially since further research has discounted it (the Zeno brothers) or more of a question mark. Noorbergen is very insistent that the theories of von Daniken or Sitchin that advanced technology is from extraterrestrials doesn’t make sense even though his book is very much in their vain. Yet in trying to fit in so much in around 200 pages, Noorbergen misses out on better analytical explanations.
Secrets of the Lost Races is an intriguing use of evidence that “ancient astronaut” theorists have brought further to a different purpose. While Rene Noorbergen’s interest in the Flood and Noah’s Ark is various obvious, it doesn’t take away from his theory but adds emphasis to it. If you’re interested in an alternate view of history this is something you might be interested in.
August 21, 2016
Mostly nonsense and pseudoscience. Prime examples: Noorbergen has a chapter on ancient aviation, and another chapter on ancient nuclear warfare. I'm not opposed to such events in theory (we humans have always had the *mental capacity* to build nuclear bombs...what we lacked was an organized society and infrastructure to realize the potential). But the reality is that there's no good evidence to support Noorbergen claims. And it's not limited to these two chapters; the entire book rests on faulty assumptions, distorted research, and unreliable data. Two thumbs way down.
August 18, 2008
Fascinating information based on archeaological finds, historical records, and science that really gets the mind thinking. Unfortunately, I do not have access to any of the resources sited, so I can't test it's accuracy or reliability. But it's very interesting and kind-of helps fill in the gaps between the Tower of Babel and Abraham.
September 14, 2010
The writer claims that there are many artifacts that point to a high civilisation before the Flood. Interesting and dated.
August 17, 2015
Tailed off a bit at the end, but very interesting!
February 22, 2022
This is the most interesting book that I have read this year, so far. Very different take on the possibilities of earth's history. There are lots of different viewpoints but they are well documented with archeological, scientific and biblical references. Not sure what I believe, but these are well argued points that are least deserve some unbiased consideration of possibilities. This was a great read!
March 23, 2024
This book is widely quoted by David Childress, it broke some ground in the time it was released, but today I think it is rather obsolete, it goes to great lengths talking about the ark of Noah, tries hard to disprove the ancient alien lore that was starting to buzz about at this time, if you do research these things it is an interesting purchase, if you are just curious try Graham Hancock or Andrew Collins first.
September 30, 2020
Very detailed, although a little dry, since the chapters are super long with no paragraph breaks. Excellent book.
February 6, 2021
Amazing...
May 5, 2022
Fascinating.
July 7, 2022
Irrational, unscientific and highly speculative and fallable reasoning based on a Creationist angle of Noach and the Flood. Quite baffling, but entertaining.
February 10, 2024
it's quite a page turner and makes a lot of sense.
February 28, 2026
Very mind opening and epic. The inclusion of large amounts of evidence and writings of other academics makes his theories very believable.
November 1, 2009
I would subtitle it "Inconvenient Truth Series - Archeology" - just as we could have such books in area of history, energy technology, in medicine, in pharmacology, in politics, in major media, in events of 9-11... . In summary an embarrassing truth is that as saying goes "The truth will send you free" we don't put enough importance to demand truth on daily basis in every aspect of our lives. So do we feel free? ...or is it why we are entangled in all problems that we have today? Was it good for us as a nation that we have some "sugar daddies" who ,for our own good, had not let us deal with reality as it is but keep shrouding facts with secrecy and lies?
It is good when society is exposed to some even shocking truth because after the shock wears off next morning most of us would feel challenged to face revealed problem and start working on solutions. What's better than discussions on public forums to involve a brain power of masses to brainstorm problem for possible action? So if it comes to discoveries that may change ideas of our origin been put into a storage at museum basement for forty years because it didn't fit into any established patterns - it is a crime in my book just as much as withholding evidence in criminal investigation.
This means that any action taken to hide or suppress a truth in any aspect of our existence as the nation is highly immoral if not a crime. There is a reason why we should protect transparency and accountability not only in government but in any body of public power or influence. So media should report truth and investigate it, and explore it not lie or play us with half truths span around some interest.
May be than we would have some decent political candidates who can't hide behind prearranged or screened debate questions. May be than medicine would be better and less expensive if not controlled by few mega pharma companies. May be than ideas on "zero point energy" would find its way to American physics establishment and into our commerce freeing us from a curse of oil pollution and debt. May be than it would be o.k. to demand clarification on issues clouded with doubt without been labeled "a conspiracy theorist" instead of been given clear truthful facts.
How can we train our Marines telling them: "When in doubt - check it out" and than back in civilian life expect them to act to contrary? As humans we are performing best under some moderate stress. We are very adaptive and resourceful. We don't need "sugar daddies" to shield us from tests of our destiny - we need to face our destiny and to deal with it as best as we can.
The truth from the past is a tool to avoid mistakes in a future - therefore it is a crime to temper with it and use it for any manipulative purpose.
It is good when society is exposed to some even shocking truth because after the shock wears off next morning most of us would feel challenged to face revealed problem and start working on solutions. What's better than discussions on public forums to involve a brain power of masses to brainstorm problem for possible action? So if it comes to discoveries that may change ideas of our origin been put into a storage at museum basement for forty years because it didn't fit into any established patterns - it is a crime in my book just as much as withholding evidence in criminal investigation.
This means that any action taken to hide or suppress a truth in any aspect of our existence as the nation is highly immoral if not a crime. There is a reason why we should protect transparency and accountability not only in government but in any body of public power or influence. So media should report truth and investigate it, and explore it not lie or play us with half truths span around some interest.
May be than we would have some decent political candidates who can't hide behind prearranged or screened debate questions. May be than medicine would be better and less expensive if not controlled by few mega pharma companies. May be than ideas on "zero point energy" would find its way to American physics establishment and into our commerce freeing us from a curse of oil pollution and debt. May be than it would be o.k. to demand clarification on issues clouded with doubt without been labeled "a conspiracy theorist" instead of been given clear truthful facts.
How can we train our Marines telling them: "When in doubt - check it out" and than back in civilian life expect them to act to contrary? As humans we are performing best under some moderate stress. We are very adaptive and resourceful. We don't need "sugar daddies" to shield us from tests of our destiny - we need to face our destiny and to deal with it as best as we can.
The truth from the past is a tool to avoid mistakes in a future - therefore it is a crime to temper with it and use it for any manipulative purpose.
February 23, 2013
I read this book when I was 12 years old. I remember being fascinated by the supposed discovery of Noah's Ark and evidence of advanced technology discovered in ancient tombs. But a lot of it was dry heavy reading for a 12 year old. It was a chore to finish, but I did it. Three stars for fond memories.
April 27, 2017
While I enjoy reading about theories about the Antediluvian society that existed before the Flood, one must have a certain willing suspension of disbelief. Sometimes they try so hard to prove the point they latch on any and everything to prove the point. Sometimes, we have to realize that our ancestors were more brighter and more dedicated than we are today, and they could build some amazing things.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews