Customer Reviews

The 2012 Story: The Myths, Fallacies, and Truth Behind the Most Intriguing Date in History

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Several years ago, I had the privilege of studying for several semesters with Maya scholar Matt Looper. As a result of class discussions on 2012, I never took the rants of new-age hucksters seriously. I was very pleased to read Mr. Jenkins' clear-headed scholarly discussion of the subject and very happy to see that Matt Looper was referenced in the material. There are actually several books contained in this volume. A historical overview of the culture and a history of early explorers and scholars lay the foundation for discussions of the long count calendar system. Mr. Jenkins then tackles just about every new-age and sensationalist misunderstanding currently circulating in the 2012 world. His explanations and rebuttals of erroneous information get a little tedious at times, but all-in-all, most of it is necessary if the air is to be cleared on this subject.

As Mr. Jenkins so clearly points out, "Many of the most significant breakthroughs continue to be made by independent outside-the-field thinkers" who are willing to look at ancient cultures without preconceived notions. Sadly, many scholars cling to the mistaken view that these cultures lack the sophisticated thinking of modern man. As a result, they are looked upon as child-like and pre-rational rather than the trans-rational beings they actually are. Their mythology is dismissed because scientists do not understand the language of symbols. Happily, Mr. Jenkins is not one of those scholars, and he gives Maya culture the respect it deserves.

As a proponent of the perennial philosophy and experiential gnosis, I was thrilled to see that Mr. Jenkins included these subjects in the second part of the book. It should be no surprise that the tenets of the perennial philosophy show up in the Popol Vuh's tale of One Hanahpu, Seven Macaw and the hero twins. Some readers may not feel comfortable with Mr. Jenkins' application of the myth to current politicians and corporations, but they are apropos. A section at the end of the book discusses the relevancy of the Popol Vuh in our time, and gives some suggestions for sharing the opportunity for transformation that follows the close of each cycle.

One section of the book addresses the current "Maya renaissance" that has helped introduce Maya culture to the world. Jenkins also includes a glossary of terms and a timeline of the 2012 story. Both are helpful and add to the value of the book. Jenkins challenges his readers with the opportunity to use this period of cyclical change in a positive way. His far ranging expertise makes this a very interesting read for anyone who wants to bypass the ruckus and get to the real meaning of 2012. Lee & Steven Hager are the authors of Quantum Prodigal Son: Revisiting Jesus' Parable of the Prodigal Son from the Perspective of Quantum Mechanics

I'm a history buff, but when it comes to science--not so much. One of the things I liked best about this book is that the author "lured me in" with history that read like the stuff of novels. I found myself wanting to know more about the science of it all, too. I enjoyed learning about the specific people who helped create the current world view of these lost civilizations. The documentation provided, the photographs/illustrations, and the time line at the end of the book were interesting and helpful.

As a child I was told about the secret prophecies of Fatima, and that the world would likely end in 2000. Since the world survived the turn of the century, I've taken the gloom and doom surrounding 2012 with a grain of salt. I found Mr. Jenkins' book to be reassuring, that while the world will always face dangers, the end is not necessarily near.

With so much "new age" propaganda from so many sources, I appreciate having more insight into the facts. After reading the book, I feel as though I've had a college course on the subject. I liken the experience of reading this book to running "2012" through Snopes.com, to sift the wheat from the chaff.

What I did not expect was the call for a personal involvement at the close of the book. In the end, what seems to be asked of us is what mankind SHOULD have been doing all along. But it's still good to be reminded.

John Major Jenkins, or JMJ as his moniker goes, has written an exhaustive tome on all things 2012. When I think about other books on the subject few are as accessible or thorough as this one. Many folks hawking 2012 wares are in it for the personality rush or have little meaningful to say. (I recall Pinchbecks book on 2012 was a major dissapointment and a bummer.) But JMJ is not toting this to gather groupies around him at Burning Man nor to write tons of fluff like others. Here is a serious researcher who takes a view at so many angles of 2012. You get views of the Mayan calendarics behind the date, how this is being viewed by and is affecting our society, and other impacts that really tell a complete story. So for just being a wide ranging book that has lots of good stuff to say this book gets the Wow.

Now for the Huh? from the review title. There is so much detail here that JMJ slogs through intricate details of the major players in the 2012 world. Who said what, and who wrote what, down to the play by play, email to email posting. In the middle of some parts of the book you have to slog through thinking 'John, that's nice, but I did not need to know the minutiae of why you think your are right and Calleman or others are not right'. Up to a certain point I don't care about the mini details. Much of this could have been left out. But even with carrying these blemishes I can see how the topic would not be complete without it.

Finally onto the Beware! There are alot of folks and movies who are hyping the end of the world at 2012 with the tsunamis coming over the Himalayas and all that. The largest dangers we face around this time are not from a rocking and rolling planet but from the ego, the shadow, as depicted by a character from the Maya named Seven Macaw. In this book JMJ shows how Seven Macaw as a controlling energy is manifesting more and more in governments and is a real and present danger. There are quotes from Brezinski who says that in a technology-society freedoms are extravagances. Brezinski The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy And Its Geostrategic Imperatives and Kissenger and others named and nameless are behind our current strategy of dominating Eurasia for the oil and control of the chessboard. JMJ also nails it when he shows that it is the [eternal] corporations with the ability to influence all aspects of governnment [skirt laws, etc] and to condition/program the populace through advertising and other mechanisms, that are as much a danger as uncontrolled government.

Seven Macaw is active as the dark force [1984 continued] in bankrupting economies, playing up flu hoaxes [see JANE BURGERMEISTER and the flu case dot com], basically twisting and turning the populace at will to be manipulated away from freedom and to fear and to accept more control. And just as the folks who are pulling strings are making money there are also those who are making money playing off the fear on the info warrior side. [Auditing the FED is only the start in cutting the puppet strings.]

Many folks in the metaphysical communities have said that there would be an increase in polarities of light and dark during this time. What JMJs book does is to show you how the Maya understood these energies as part of the transition that the Mayan (really Izapan/Olmec, etc.) Calendar and 2012 all tie together. So for the important information the book contains about these times of transition the book does grab the 'Beware and pay attention' review tagline.

If I were to footnote JMJs book I would add that the manifestation of One Hunapu is by living the path of love, trust, and gratitude. While there will be many things going on in this 2012 process it is love, trust, gratitude, and a discrimination/wisdom that will get you through. If you are spiritually/mystically inclined the you should also check out Robert E. Cox as in The Pillar of Celestial Fire: And the Lost Science of the Ancient Seers. This book will give you a deeper perspective of the changes going on at the earth during this time.

In summary the book is a good read. A bit long and a bit tied up in details up the wazoo. But then again it's not schlock-ware like so many other 2012 books. Most folks with higher than average IQs will get alot out of it.

The 2012 Story, written by a long-time scholar and writer on topics Maya and 2012, is an effort to present a definitive history of research done to date regarding the specific date of the ending of the Mayan time cycle, as well as his own interpretation of its ultimate meaning both from the Mayan standpoint and ours as a world society. Its success is in this reviewer's opinion somewhat spotty.

The book is broken down into two parts. Part I concerns an update of scholarship of all types done on the Mayan culture since more or less the arrival of the Spaniards and up to the present day, and this is presented in a sober, dry, and seemingly objective way. The author is at pains to give credit to a few parties where he feels it is due, and certainly feels free to dole out criticism where he thinks that appropriate, as evidently he does in numerous cases. It is not long before we are engulfed in some technical discussion through explication of the sacred Maya Long Count calendar regarding how the specific date of December 21, 2012 has been arrived at; we continually, again and again, revisit the author's dealing with competing or other lecturers, writers, and researchers who arrive at different dates through incorrectly accounting for leap years and sometimes just simply through sloppiness. His frustration in not having his own calculations universally accepted by other writers, even when most painstakingly explained, is palpable; and conversely, his ire when his calculations and conclusions in fact are accepted, and republished without due credit, also leaps right off the page. While often repetitive from chapter to chapter, as the arguments are rehashed again and again, a reader unschooled in the technical aspects of the discussion, like myself, does come to understand the issues and justification surrounding the exact dating of the end of the time cycle.

There is also a good amount of discussion regarding the significance of the date for the Maya, and here the books shines. The author goes into the Maya creation myths, ruins and statuary evidence supporting the existence and importance of these myths. The origins and workings of the Long Count calendar are patiently explained, and ruins and stellae are interpreted. There is a good deal of astronomy to deal with as well, which plays an absolutely vital part in the entire story, and is worth following closely; Jenkins does as good a job of explaining this relatively complicated material to a readership presumably mostly comprised of lay people. While I would have liked more pictures, including detailed interpretations of the various diagrams and texts on the monuments, the reader is able to follow the story easily as it stands. We are left with 2012 being the end of a time cycle tied to the Maya creation myth in which the archetypal evil character Seven Macaw is finally overthrown by the Hero Twins who in so doing restore the rightful ruler their father One Hunahpu to the throne, metaphorically ushering out an increasingly corrupt and sickening world in favor of a world reborn and reinvigorated spiritually. 2012 is a date to be eagerly anticipated in this line of thinking, and certainly is not the apocalyptic end-of-the-world as foretold in breathless New Age books recently. (Jenkins in fact is quite contemptuous of the current flock of writers trying to cash in on the 2012 phenomenon, writers who often know little or nothing of the underlying story or concepts.)

While not the most concisely edited explication of his position possible, I found Part I to be informative and clear, brimming with enthusiasm for the subject and thoroughly sober as a treatment.

Part II deals with Jenkins' interpretation of what this is to mean, and here the book moves from dry historical research to personal political polemic, and suffers thereby. Once the author presents his general spiritual worldview - pace Aldous Huxley's The Perennial Philosophy, all important major religions (including the Mayan, per Jenkins) are one at heart - we arrive at the historical significance of the metaphorical rebirth envisioned by the Maya, to take place 2000 years after the invention and introduction of their sacred calendar, and in which the forces of righteousness and justice overthrow those of evil, lies, and deception embodied in the concept of Seven Macaw. Helpfully, Jenkins is able to specifically identify the vain, false, and anti-illuminative Seven Macaw not only by general outline or role in the mythology, but exactly and personally by name, today, here and now. He is - wait for it - George W. Bush.

Too bad so much thought and effort in Jenkins' decades of research on the subject of the Maya culture had to be cheapened by this.

Oh, Jenkins will then admit that Seven Macaw is everywhere, large and small, his forces pervade our society (but only our society!), Seven Macaw is legion - but he finds time and space to speak of only one by name. Now, it doesn't so much matter what one thinks of Bush - this reviewer thinks very little of him indeed - but surely there are greater evildoers in recent world history. Would not Wahabi Islamist leaders perhaps represent Seven Macaw if you were a woman; Stalin and the rest of the Communist leadership represent the same if you happened to live anywhere close to their sphere of influence; even our great pals the Chinese leadership might seem much like Seven Macaw at work if one were a peaceful Falun Gong practitioner, or a Tibetan. But no, there is only one for Jenkins, it is not Mao, not Stalin, not Hitler, not Pol Pot, not Kim Jong Il, not any of a hundred other mass murderers, tyrants or perpetrators of vast evil. It is Bush. By contrast, Barack Obama, whose very recent ascent from the ranks of the unknown and from inexperience is closer to 2012 than that of his predecessor Bush, is "something close to a miracle" for Jenkins, the one "true ruler and the emergence of a unity consciousness of One Hunahpu." Please.

Jenkins' bitter personal attack on one man hardly fits in with the rest of his message of peace, spiritual renewal, service, and so on. But history does not fit his concept of a world getting worse, where the peaceful civilizations of the past have lost out to the vicious Orwellian present. The will to power, destruction, and man's inhumanity towards man are aided by modern technology, but the urges are as old as man; there has been no age of peace, love and understanding no matter how mystically inclined or illuminated a civilization has claimed to be. (And Caligula was only Rome's third Emperor, not one of the last.)

Jenkins goes on: some pages later he is disappointed to learn that Obama suddenly seems in fact just another politician, whose actions have precisely nothing to do with his words; he is surrounded by Seven Macaws. Noam Chomsky is quoted, never a good sign, and the book turns into something of a rant. The Corporations are also Seven Macaws; "their birth certificates were forged." Then it's the government, private employers trying to run businesses; Seven Macaw seemingly exists everywhere. The United States is in particular excoriated for being short sighted, consumerist, driven by material gain and ego. Okay, that's fair enough. But today's fastest growing nations in consumerism and materialism are China and India, not the US. The simple fact is, everyone wants more; being poor is only noble when you're not poor yourself.

Jenkins finishes his book in a somewhat more uplifting (or uplifted, anyway) manner, describing an acid trip he took in a sensory deprivation environment, where he experienced something he considered an illuminative breakthrough.

Regarding the research and details surrounding the Mayan calendar and the 2012 dating question, Mayan mythology, and the astronomy the subject deals with, Jenkins knows a great deal and once you read Part I of this book, you too will know something of it; enough, anyway, to easily deal with spurious arguments about the pending end of the world your friends will bring up after the movie comes out in November. But do yourself a favor and skip Part II.

Is there anything you don't want to know about 2012? Too bad, because if you read this book you'll know everything and then some.
The best part is that much of it is fun. Not only is John Major Jenkins a smooth, flowing, fascinating writer, but he is thorough enough to invite both scholars and laypeople to his wordfest.

I personally loved the tidbit bios that open the book. Jenkins knows how to pull out both the relevant and riveting from the lives of those who sought the Mayan secrets, and salt them with bright pieces of always-wanted-to-know facts along the way. Tony Shearer is a case in point. I always wondered who came up with the Harmonic Convergence date. Shearer did. He and other pioneers are made to sound so interesting that I wanted to learn more about them, read their books and life stories. This is the mark of not only a very good writer, but a very good teacher.

We learn about Terrance McKenna's "fractal pattern." What in heck is that all about? Well, haven't you and your friends been muttering about the strange feeling everyone has that time is speeding up? Apparently, it is -- with 2012 being a key year for time to either stop or change dramatically. Chills. Or maybe not. Jenkins observes, "Time speeds up because consciousness closes down." What does that mean for us? Plenty. See Jenkins' revealing and rather funny idea about McKenna's "Novelty Theory" on P. 74.

Have you heard about the "galactic alignment"? Jenkins makes it clear. It is "the alignment of the December solstice sun with the dark rift in the Milky Way." It is already happening. This event and its symbolism are intriguing. Jenkins explores ideas from various cultures, not just the Maya (who believed it heralded an awakening in human consciousness). Thank god Jenkins was influenced
by Joseph Campbell! It makes Jenkins' stories come alive at odd and appealing angles. This book is so comprehensive, Jenkins even offers a Mayan joke.

In line with "sudden changes" that are supposed to happen December 21, 2012, we can look back in history and say certain things changed, but to define that one moment in which the change took place is impossible. We get, instead, a countless number of
"chicken/egg" events until we are lost in the dawn of time. For example, we know the human race moved from a hunter/gatherer society to an agricultural one. How long do you think it took for the first woman to plant the first seed and decide to sit there and wait for it to become an apple tree? And how long did it take the first man to say, "Well, if you're going to wait around for that stupid tree to produce fruit, I might as well build us a hut"? And how long did it take for others to join them and create the first village? Right. So, too, whatever changes might be in store for us have probably already begun and the approaching 24 hour period we humans call 12-21-12 may well pass without an obvious marker. Or not.

"The 2012 Story" at its best is eminently readable. At its worst?
An occasional, but understandable, defensive tone when dealing with his critics. However, all told, Jenkins' general tone is personal, wise, likeable, and that of a born storyteller. I don't like to mix it up with other reviewers, but it seems unfair that Jenkins received only one star from a man who apparently did not read the subtitle of the book. He didn't like all those facts and those bios, but I'm betting you will.

So what's in store for us on 12-21-12? I'll let Jenkins bring it home: "transformation and renewal. I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but if the end-of-time party planners invite Eternity (you'd think they would, right?) they better make sure there will be enough room in the parking lot. I hear Eternity will be bringing some friends."

I was looking for a book on 2012 that was based on science, not hype. I had seen Jenkins in interviews, and he sounded like the kind of author I was looking for.

The only problem was - the book is mostly about him (somewhat of an autobiography), and not much else. His LSD trip was not something that I felt qualified him as an expert on archeology, but his love of the Mayan people did shine through the whole book.

John Major Jenkins's "The 2012 Story" was a long but thorough read about the year 2012. John cuts through the hype and hysteria with sound knowledge. He has convinced me the Mayans were not a race of no-nothings, but a highly intelligent society. John's exhaustive research should give the scientific community a tug to re-examine the Mayan culture and look at their knowledge with more profoundness. Whether they will or not is yet to be seen, but it is to the discredit of science if they depress John's research.

This book will not please the new age movement as the book clearly gives sound advice and how the world is not going to end. Speaking of which, I recall books declaring the world will be in chaos in 2000 from Y2K. Anyone remember that? John does a great job on showing the evidence that the Mayans knew the calendar with extensive knowledge and not haphazardly with sticks and stones. John leaves open the door that 2012 could very well be a new opening for mankind to a new beginning.

So to sum it up, if you are looking for UFOs coming down and destroying mankind in 2012, or the world blowing up, this book won't appeal to you. If you want solid research to understand the Mayans, what they knew and how they perceived the calendar, this book is a solid choice.

Like many, I've been intrigued with the 2012 rumors, and read this because it was in my local library. I found it to be a mixed bag.

I think that Mr Jenkins did a fairly good job of providing a brief history of Mayan studies and research, and explaining his own 'galactic alignment' theory. He also admitted that the descendents of Mayans today know very little about their ancestors and what little they do know tends to be drawn from the work of whites from the USA and elsewhere. He also concedes that many involved in this area - writers, lecturers, conference organizers, etc. - are in it for the money. However, he claims that his own involvement on the speaking tour, his books, etc., are 'activist service' rather than profit.

The author has a tendency to badmouth writers and researchers who disagree with him or who have ideas that do not match his own. He also writes that he has not gotten enough credit or attention for his work, at one somewhat amusing point saying that he has the 'dubious honor of having been plagiarised and excoriated at the same time'.

I am disappointed that he treats the idea of Quetzalcoatl dismissively, citing the tradition itself as 'the old story of the bearded white guy'. Actually many Indian tribes throughout North, Central, and South America have the same, or similar, tradition of a Christ-like figure which they often physically describe as a blond, bearded white man who came from the east and brought them knowledge and wisdom of all kinds and then departed while promising to return. The Indians came to see him as a god and this is why the early Spaniards were perceived as the gods returning as promised. Surely a fascinating tradition like this deserved serious and respectful treatment, especially when the author himself insists on treating Mayan and other Indian myths, stories, and traditions with respect and even reverence.

The only 'event' the author associates with his 'galactic alignment' happening in late 2012 is a vaguely defined spiritual change in which people become more attuned with the environment, being more loving, etc., i.e. the usual New Agey cliches and tired mantras which date back to the 60s and 70s. The underlying political agendas which I suspected with all that were confirmed when the author began attacking George Bush 2, the republicans in general, and insisting that readers re-elect Barack Obama. My goodness, surely all that did not belong in a book like this, but there it was. He even insists that America is a great evil, a capitalist society 'waging war on nature' and similar drivel. This kind of quasi-Marxist nonsense utterly spoils the book and renders it generally without merit.

As if all that is not bad enough, Jenkins even urges the imbibing of hallucinogenic drugs in order to receive 'insights' etc. into this subject, such 'insights' he placing on the same qualitative level as knowledge and facts gained from serious hard science. He admits to his own drug trips - which cumulative effects thereof perhaps may account for his rantings against Bush et al. It may be true that ancient shamans used peyote, mushrooms, etc. but the effects are always supect because they are too highly subjective.

I can not honestly recommend something like this to anyone seriously interested in Mayan studies and the 2012 concept. I plan to read other works on this subject, but this author I will avoid.

The first part of the book where Jenkins discusses the history of the Mayan people and culture is very, very interesting and well written. I truly enjoyed it. The rest of the book... not so much. I got a little tired of his repeated claims that others used his research and misrepresented it for or to their own betterment. I got the feeling that Jenkins feels like a victim. It also felt like he went over and over the same things several times... at least too many times for me.

I would strongly recommend "The 2012 Story". I found it brilliant, moving, and empowering and a book that brings light to a murky subject. I have been active in spiritual movements since the early 1970s and can relate totally to Mr. Jenkins' beautiful experience "in the tank" and his dedication to making the world be a more nurturing place to live.

While I trust his judgment that a transformation is not only possible but probable given the debased state of Western culture, deep down I feel most people are so blinded by the Gods of science that it cannot happen without divine intervention of some sort.

I also feel put off by his constant disparaging of "New Agers" in which he lumps all New Age movements and practitioners into one sordid mess of charlatans, fakers, and con artists, ignoring the vast majority of those who have toiled for many years, creating a new spiritual focus in the world where none existed.

On the other hand I do see his point of view about the exploiters, sensationalists, and attention grabbers in the 2012 field but they should be labeled as such not all called "New Agers". This only presents more fodder for media caricatures.

Notwithstanding the above reservations, this is one of the best books I've read on this subject and is a must for spiritual seekers.