What do you think?
Rate this book
LIFE The Greatest Unsolved Mysteries of All Time: 50 Baffling Cases from the Files
Did the Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia survive the slaughter of her family, and did Amelia Earhart perhaps survive her famous flight across the Pacific?
Where did the evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson go when she vanished in May of 1926, and where did the mystery writer Agatha Christie disappear to later that same year?
Was Napoleon in fact murdered, and might the same fate have befallen Dag Hammarskjold?
Where's all the loot from the Great Train Robbery, not to mention all the spoils that were stashed away by the notorious gangster Dutch Schultz?
Did two other mountain climbers reach the summit of Mount Everest before Sir Edmund Hillary, and did a French airplane cross the Atlantic just before Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis?
Who was Jack the Ripper, and who was the Axman of New Orleans?
All of these questions will be asked anew (and some of them will finally be answered) in the pages of this intoxicating new LIFE book. Here are no fewer than 50 cases from the files, each more baffling than the last. The famous folks are here--from Edgar Allan Poe to Jim Morrison to JonBenet Ramsey--as are equally compelling stories involving people who you have yet to meet. LIFE's editors have unearthed more than a few obscurities for your entertainment.
Entertainment? Indeed. As these editors point out in their "There is something in human nature that draws up to the mysterious. We seek conclusions--but not really. We want answers but are entertained when they prove elusive. A mystery fascinates us, intrigues us, beguiles us. In its uncertainty, it has a softness and a sense of wonder that a solved, buttoned-down case lacks. An unsolved mystery can be romantic."
Enter, then, into the romance of The Greatest Unsolved Mysteries of All Time . Puzzle out the possible solutions to these narratives and delight in the extraordinary photographs.
Riveting stories and great just what you would expect from LIFE, and the only aspect of this book that is not at all mysterious.
Where did the evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson go when she vanished in May of 1926, and where did the mystery writer Agatha Christie disappear to later that same year?
Was Napoleon in fact murdered, and might the same fate have befallen Dag Hammarskjold?
Where's all the loot from the Great Train Robbery, not to mention all the spoils that were stashed away by the notorious gangster Dutch Schultz?
Did two other mountain climbers reach the summit of Mount Everest before Sir Edmund Hillary, and did a French airplane cross the Atlantic just before Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis?
Who was Jack the Ripper, and who was the Axman of New Orleans?
All of these questions will be asked anew (and some of them will finally be answered) in the pages of this intoxicating new LIFE book. Here are no fewer than 50 cases from the files, each more baffling than the last. The famous folks are here--from Edgar Allan Poe to Jim Morrison to JonBenet Ramsey--as are equally compelling stories involving people who you have yet to meet. LIFE's editors have unearthed more than a few obscurities for your entertainment.
Entertainment? Indeed. As these editors point out in their "There is something in human nature that draws up to the mysterious. We seek conclusions--but not really. We want answers but are entertained when they prove elusive. A mystery fascinates us, intrigues us, beguiles us. In its uncertainty, it has a softness and a sense of wonder that a solved, buttoned-down case lacks. An unsolved mystery can be romantic."
Enter, then, into the romance of The Greatest Unsolved Mysteries of All Time . Puzzle out the possible solutions to these narratives and delight in the extraordinary photographs.
Riveting stories and great just what you would expect from LIFE, and the only aspect of this book that is not at all mysterious.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
2 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
LIFE
1,171 books70 followersLife was an American magazine published weekly from 1883 to 1972, as an intermittent "special" until 1978, and as a monthly from 1978 until 2000. During its golden age from 1936 to 1972, Life was a wide-ranging weekly general interest magazine known for the quality of its photography.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 11, 2017
Only 128 pages but packed with so much information about so many various people that I didn't want to put it down and, of course, my poor husband had to listen to me for an hour after I read it ...
"Honey, did you know that Jimmy Hoffa's middle name was ...
That Jim Morrison snorted ...
That JFK had another mistress, besides Marilyn, who died from ..."
Etc. Etc. Etc.
You gotta read this book!
"Honey, did you know that Jimmy Hoffa's middle name was ...
That Jim Morrison snorted ...
That JFK had another mistress, besides Marilyn, who died from ..."
Etc. Etc. Etc.
You gotta read this book!
April 4, 2014
My mother picked up a newer edition of this bookazine, which is chock full of true unsolved mysteries. Most of them are things I've heard of before (Black Dahlia, JonBenet Ramsey, Amelia Earhart, Anastasia), but some were new to me. Overall a really interesting read, though I would've liked more than the 2-4 pages allotted to each mystery.
July 27, 2024
Overall interesting, but relatively sparse in detail (each case only receiving two to four pages, including photos) with a few typos and some "mysteries" which had already been resolved at the time of publication. A good way to kill some time and do additional research into various historical topics, especially as some of them have much more recently been solved after so long.
January 20, 2010
My husband actually grabbed this from the store a short while ago. It sat for a while before I read it. IT is kind of a historical recap of the things that just make you go "huh?" and stop and think. You would assume that with the advances of today's technology that some of these things could be finally put to rest. All in all it was a great, quick read, of some of the world's most fascinating people and the strange circumstances of their all too short or mysterious lives.
If you have ever wondered about what really happened to: Anastasia Romanov, Amelia Earhart, the money that was never found from The Great Train Robbery, or weather Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa were really the first people (men) to conquer Mount Everest, then this will be a great addition to your library.
If you have ever wondered about what really happened to: Anastasia Romanov, Amelia Earhart, the money that was never found from The Great Train Robbery, or weather Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa were really the first people (men) to conquer Mount Everest, then this will be a great addition to your library.
September 27, 2014
Great summary of some enduring mysteries.
I find it interesting that even in this day and age, when there is so much technology available, some things just will not give up their secrets.
Maybe it is good to have at least a little mystery available in a time when things can be so cut and dried and "scientific".
Several of the stories have reminded be that "Hey, that is something you always wondered about", so now I will probably go and read way too much on some interesting stories.
I find it interesting that even in this day and age, when there is so much technology available, some things just will not give up their secrets.
Maybe it is good to have at least a little mystery available in a time when things can be so cut and dried and "scientific".
Several of the stories have reminded be that "Hey, that is something you always wondered about", so now I will probably go and read way too much on some interesting stories.
June 27, 2016
An enjoyable magazine/book. Gave just enough to intrigue...if you want more or something in depth on any particular story you would need to find another resource.
My latent print examiner friend commented on the upside down fingerprint in the cover of my copy...she just wants to know why that happens? So annoying.
My latent print examiner friend commented on the upside down fingerprint in the cover of my copy...she just wants to know why that happens? So annoying.
January 1, 2016
A fun 'easy' read . A few of the unsolved mysteries have been solved since publication but it doesn't take away from the entertainment value. Not heavy or in-depth, just a light overview on a quick list.
July 19, 2011
Excellent book and really gets you thinking!
February 22, 2013
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11723502
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11723502
June 2, 2014
Interesting, but just a short article on each case; more like a concise encycolpedia of the subject than a magazine book. Disappointing because I usually like these bookzines.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews