The Gift : The Crop Circles Deciphered [Hardcover]

Doug Ruby (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1996

The author skillfully blends the analytical skills of a former USAF pilot and years of experience as a commercial pilot in deciphering the enigmatic mystery of crop circle formations that began appearing in farmer's fields in 1988.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... a uniquely subjective point of view. Another like it you won't find soon." -- Mufon/UFO Journal

"An unexpected, imaginative and possibly plausible solution to the crop circle enigma..." -- Nexus Magazine

Product Details

• Hardcover: 174 pages
• Publisher: Blue Note Pubns; 1st edition (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1878398148
• ISBN-13: 978-1878398147
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #768,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Answers the question: "what are crop circles?", February 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Gift : The Crop Circles Deciphered (Hardcover)

This book takes you on the author's personal journey as he uncovers the mystery of crop circles. I am not a scientist, and I was able to follow how he came to his conclusions. If you are as mystified by the crop cricles as I was, I think you will also be delighted with the discoveries in this book, and as astounded and fascinated as I was. I can't believe that I'm the first person to review this book. This is information that people really need to have! Aren't others reading this?? You should be! The implications are staggering.

I personally talked with his publisher about a year ago, when I ordered the book, and was informed that Doug Ruby was working on an accompanying video. I want to encourage more people to read this book to encourage the author to release this video. Once you read this book, you will want to see that video!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing and original., October 9, 2001

By 

Dennis Hawley (Asheville, NC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gift : The Crop Circles Deciphered (Hardcover)

The Gift is a thought-provoking examination of the phenomenon of "crop circles" (glyphs or pictograms). By employing a novel and creative approach to understanding these images (derived from "common sense and intuition"), Ruby extrapolates from the two-dimensional glyphs three-dimensional models, with eye-popping results. Ruby concludes from his research that the pictograms originate from extraterrestrial entities. He believes the sequence of the appearance of these images are building blocks to man's understanding of messages. These messages have begun with a description of UFO's physical structure and propulsion systems. These glyphs provide ever-more information as they progress in complexity.
Whether Ruby's "decoding" is correct or not, it is facile to dismiss the reality of a true mystery. It is certainly correct that many of these "circles" are hoaxes. There was even a "crop circle making" competition in England. However, research by scientists like Charles Levengood and Nancy Talbott have shown empirically that "real" crop circles show changes at the cellular level (which can be replicated by short, intense bursts of microwave energy). There is also no breakage of the stalks of the plants, only bending. This cannot be done by hoaxers. Aside from that, the notion that two English geezers and copycats are creating thousands of such glyphs worldwide, showing complex fractal geometry patterns, and leaving no trace of their presence, is ridiculous. The recent (Aug.01) Chilbolton, England glyphs will sorely test the hoax hypothesis. Carl Sagan offered his biased, mechanistic view, conveniently ignoring that which did not fit; Jim Schnabel ('Dark White')seems to be more of a debunker than an open-minded skeptic. Both provide a convenient out for those who prefer their ordered and safe world view. If you aren't afraid to consider other possibilities, however, this work will deliver.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Alternative Viewpoints, August 15, 2001

By 

Ashley Rye (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gift : The Crop Circles Deciphered (Hardcover)

I heartily recommend this interesting book, which presents a refreshingly different perspective. As for the reviewer promoting Jim Schnabel's 'Round in Circles' as a solution to the mystery, it would be foolish indeed to jump to the conclusion that a known CIA agent is going to present the public with unadorned facts, given that government disinformation on this subject, media manipulation, and the 'Firm's role in it, is already well documented.