Customer Reviews

A Brief History of Secret Societies: An unbiased history of our desire for secret knowledge

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With this book, Barrett paints the history of secret societies with a very broad brush, which is good in my opinion. So many of the other books get bogged down in a morass of minor details that may or may not have any substance. Barrett weaves all the threads from the different groups together to form a complete tapestry. You will come away with a much better understanding of how it all fits together. This is truly a history book, not paranoid hysteria.

Great book for a brief hit and miss history of secrect societies, how they formed, who disliked them and the conflicts they had that bring us to presnt day. Great read for a place to start learning about these societies.

Mr. Barrett's look into the history of various esoteric societies is refreshing in its objectivity and thorough research. This book will give the reader a brief but accurate look at various societies and how they interacted within the world at their time. Additionally, his intraspection on the Freemasons, Hermetic Philosophers, Gnostics, Templars, Neo-Platonism and various other groups include their affect on the world and other esoteric organizations with similar perspectives. In respect to the Freemasons singularly, this book references the works of both Knight and Short, discussing what they got right and what they got wrong.

A wonderful read for history enthusists whom seek to broaden they're knowledge on heterodoxical societies and their sometimes blatant, sometimes subtle influence on our world today.

This book deals with cults and that means religion where all or most religions began as. The information is sited and well written, and a book to be highly appreciated if one owns it.

This book gives a lot of in-depth information about the history of religious societies, how, where and who formed them. The author gives unbiased accounts, pointing out factual and misleading stories including myths and the truth. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and learned much from the author. It is well-written and easy to understand.

absolutely fascinating book. the author really discerns and disects tons of history and beliefs of many secret societies. That and it is accompanied by very very great insight and extremely informative. He does it too in a manner where it is not pressuring it on you. Just stating the facts and backing them up in a humble way. His intention is to inform not change beliefs. lots of learning to be had here for those who wish to pursue it.

I had no idea the book would be this good. It was a christmas gift given to me completely at random and I am very grateful to have received it. It also reads like a history book, informative on religions. etc. A good book to also pick and chose what faith you would like to pursue or follow

Being a Freemason, I felt that David Barrett review of the Freemasons added very little true

information and was nothing more than what has been repeated over and over

again with little to no new material and mostly that is gossip.

Freemason is an excellent organization that builds character and high morals. A few secret

handshakes and passwords does not make it evil and no, it is not trying to overthrow this

wonderful country we live in. The other type society references that he eludes too is very

brief and I note that he failed to even make note of another well know secret society, the

Knights of Columbus. Does he not know they exist or is he shielding them?