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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Understand the Lost Symbol and Freemasonry, January 25, 2010
This review is from: Deciphering the Lost Symbol: Freemasons, Myths and the Mysteries of Washington, D.C. (Paperback)
I've spent the last few months going through the various "unauthorized guides" to Dan Brown's novel The Lost Symbolmostly out of curiosity as to how the Freemasons are treated by non-Masonic authors. Every month the list grows with new guides like these. I'm a big fan of Hodapp's, so I was interested to see his take on the book.
Hodapp's "Deciphering The Lost Symbol" comes at the subject with a longstanding knowledge of Masonic history, philosophy and symbolism. His previous books, Freemasons For Dummies and Solomon's Builders: Freemasons, Founding Fathers and the Secrets of Washington D.C. are certainly longer and more detailed as introductions to the subject, and in fact, Solomon's Builders seems to have been the bigger brother of this book, written before The Lost Symbol arrived in bookstores. Where "Deciphering" works is in the examination of Freemasonry as it is fictionalized by Brown, versus what is reality. Hodapp presents the subject with honesty and humor, along with a chapter on Noetics that covers the topic more succinctly than any of the other guides I've read so far. And his final chapter is a very personal summation that I find quite compelling.
This book is thinner and covers less ground than Solomon's Builders, mostly because Brown included less in The Lost Symbol than most people figured he would. Hodapp warns readers up front that he discusses some of the same subjects here. Didn't bother me, because he was more generic in "Solomons", and zeroes in only on what Brown wrote about here. Really, the two books complement each other. He discusses the symbolism Brown uses, with the origin of the signs, symbols and words Robert Langdon encounters. The Washington Monument, the Capital, the Library of Congress, the Scottish Rite headquarters and the Masonic George Washington Memorial are all covered, especially from the Masonic point of view, but also in the details that Brown fictionalized. And the bibliography alone is intriguing enough to keep me buying books off of its list for years.
This book is illustrated (BTW, with the only proper illustration and origin of the "Hand of Mysteries" of anything I've read yet) with many photos, although it is not what I would call loaded with pictures. It's a shame the publisher didn't treat the art better (or at least larger). And for diehard fans, a map showing the locations of The Lost Symbol's action would have been a nice addition. But all in all, I believe this to be the best written of all of the Lost Symbol guides so far. I highly recommend it for readers who know nothing about the Masons and want to know what Brown got right and got wrong. And I am recommending it to the members of my lodge, too.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Brown Companion Book, October 31, 2010
This review is from: Deciphering the Lost Symbol: Freemasons, Myths and the Mysteries of Washington, D.C. (Paperback)
I recently heard the author Chris Hodapp speak at a Masonic gathering, and he says that Freemasonry will be effected by The Lost Symbol for at least a full generation of new members. His belief is that new members read about Masonry in Brown's book and elsewhere, and will influence the fraternity as they become members and officers. So its important that Masons understand the Brown image of what Masons are and what we do. Hodapp is as powerful a speaker as he is a wonderful author, and he makes a strong argument for his position.
I didn't even know Deciphering the Lost Symbol existed before this, and I read it cover to cover in one sitting. In it Hodapp's thorough knowledge of history, philosophy, symbolism and Freemasonry comes through, wrapped in his trademarked fun style that makes his books so easy to like. If you know nothing about the Masonic world apart from what you've read in Brown's books and seen on the Discovery Channel, Hodapp's book makes it clear. This is NOT an introductory book to the Freemasons as a big, broad topic. (That's what his Freemasons For Dummies is excellent for, and why so many lodges seem to be using it for their new members these days-mine included.) It is a well documented guide book to Brown's novel, explaining the symbols, ceremonies and real-life locations around Washington DC. If you are a Freemason, he gives a Masonic insight to Brown's many references and tracks down what Brown got right, what he got wrong, and where he got it to begin with. Yeah, even the whole "blood out of the skull" business.
Be aware that you really do need to read Brown's book before you pick up Hodapp's, because it is by its very nature a spoiler-packed guidebook. And I agree with other reviewers that it's the best of the companion books to Brown's out on the market.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent Companion To The Novel...., February 7, 2010
This review is from: Deciphering the Lost Symbol: Freemasons, Myths and the Mysteries of Washington, D.C. (Paperback)
Picked up "Deciphering the Lost Symbol" shortly after completing Dan Brown's novel. This book is an excellent companion for the novel. Not only does it give an in-depth look into the various symbols and ceremonies that Brown uses throughout his novel, it also lets the reader know when Brown is using too much literary license with all things Masonic.
Mr. Hodapp's writing is clear and engaging and not at all pedantic. He explains things an easy to understand way, never talking down to the reader, and sprinkles in liberal doses of American History as well as debunking quite a few of the strange theories about the layout of Washington D.C.
I would definitely read this book after the novel however, as there are many spoilers in the book (which is very necessary if you think about it).
All in all this book is well worth the price.
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