Customer Reviews

Giza: The Truth, the People, Politics and History Behind the World's Most Famous Archaeological Site

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This book is divided into three parts:

Part 1 discusses the various theories concerning the pyramids at Giza, including when, why, and how they were built. Part 2 discusses the more recent theories, such as the "Orion Correllation" theory, the alignment of the shafts, and the redating of the Sphinx. Part 3 delves into the politics concerning the overseers of the Giza monuments and the many "New Age" authors whom have published many best-selling books about the subject over the past decade or so.

Without giving away too much detail, I will first say that this book is most definitely worth reading. In Parts 1&2, the authors attack theories put forward by BOTH the alternative AND orthodox camps with a respectable dose of logic that left me feeling that they were, more or less, fair-minded individuals with little bias one way or the other. They discuss how ramp theories may not be as far-fetched as some have suggested, yet also conceed that stones of immense wieght used in construction throughout the ancient world might also suggest that a lost technology such as sonic levitation may be a possibility.

The point here is that to the authors, nothing is counted as fact nor dismissed outright. The material is reviewed, then the likelihoods discussed. No subject is taboo--it's all fair game and open to criticism. This is refreshing to anybody who is open-minded, yet also tired of fringe conspiracy theories. Is this to say that the authors are capable of impeccable logic? Of course not. Unlike most others, though, at least they make the attempt.

This is perhaps as comprehensive, well researched and unbiased as much as any book can be. Firstly, it gives the chronologically ordered unravelling of the pyramids and their offical standpoint in a most meticulous manner possible. Secondly, it provides the most comprehensive and unbiased coverage of all the conventional as well as unconventional theories that try to explain the phenomena of pyramids. At times the authors might appear a bit ambiguous, and that is the best aspect of the book, instead of taking any particular stance they keep an open attitude towards issues which are not completely resolvable under the current circumstances. Lastly, it gives a thorough account of the politics and the players in the field in, again, as unbiased manner as much humanly possible.

This is indeed the first book one should read before venturing towards any other (orthodox or unorthodox) material.

Wow, I sure wouldn't want to get Lawton and Ogilvie-Herald upset with me!

This book is a meaty little rascal, over 570 pages, and in it Lawton and Ogilvie-Herald take on anybody who doesn't share their orthodox view of the origin of the sphinx, pyramids, and the other architectural artifacts of Egypt and the Nile Valley, from Edgar Cayce, to Zecharia Sitchin, to Robert Schoc, Robert Bauval, Graham Hancock, and John Anthony West, referring to them with terms like "mavericks", "copycats", and "false profits". Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egyptian Director of Antiquities and the Giza Plateau is their hero as well as anyone else sharing their views.

Beginning with the accounts of first recorded explorers of the Giza Plateau and continuing through Rudolf Gantenbrink's exploration of the southern shaft of the Queen's chamber with the robot Upuaut, Lawton and Ogilvie-Herald build a well documented and convincing case for the orthodox view for the time and means of construction of all of the architectural artifacts of Egypt. Sometime in a not too complimentary style they, one by one dispute, or attempt to dispute, the claims and theories of the "alternative camp", or those researchers and authors like Robert Schock, Robert Bauval, Graham Hancock, and John Anthony West whose views and theories on the age and origin of the sphinx, and the pyramids, differ from the orthodox view of most Egyptologists. Their basic position is that the sphinx and possibly the pyramids, are ancient; far more ancient than is commonly accepted by the scientific community, and that the sphinx and the pyramids are the product of an ancient and lost civilization far more advanced than the Egyptians.

Lawton and Ogilvie-Herald throw out a topic, and then thoroughly approach and discuss it from every view or opinion, almost always arriving at the orthodox view as the only reasonable answer. It is amazing the number and diversity of the topics they cover, and they talk about things that I have never heard of before, much less considered.

I have read many books on Giza, the sphinx, and the pyramids of Egypt and while I am almost offended by the way Lawton and Ogilvie-Herald talk about some of my "heroes", whether these two guys are right or wrong, they have certainly done there homework, and this is probably the best documentation of the history of the exploration of the Giza Plateau that I have ever read.

"Giza the Truth" is a must for anyone interested in Egyptology, whether you agree with the orthodox view or not.

Giza: The Truth is an impressive, "reader friendly", and collaborative effort by ancient civilizations enthusiast Ian Lawton and Chris Ogilvie-Herald (organizer of "The Giza Debate", a London-based, two-day, international conference), to reveal the people, politics and history related to one of the world's most famous archaeological sites -- the Giza pyramid of ancient Egypt. Lawton and Ogilvie-Herald also provide the reader with an amazing reconstruction of what life in ancient Egypt must have been like, by extrapolating from the latest archaeological discoveries and a vast body of Egyptology reference data. Giza: The Truth is a truly amazing book, and strongly recommended reading for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest regarding Egyptology in general, and the Giza pyramid in particular.

A terrific book for anyone interested in Egypt, the pyramids, or ancient civilisations. The authors have done a ton of research to bring together most of what's been written about the pyramids, and provide an objective framework in which the reader can decide what's real and what's not. Fact-based, objective, and complete. Best book on the subject I have read in years.

This book provides a good summary of the current state of Egyptology. It also contains references to many other books which sound excellent for people who are interested in Egyptology.

I'm planning on going back and ordering a bunch of the books which are referenced in 'Giza The Truth'.

I felt the first chapters spent too much time talking about things which really cannot be proven in any way. A new age theory would be presented and then refuted using traditional beliefs about Egyptology which to me are no more reliable than the new age ideas. I think it's obvious now that traditional beliefs about the Giza plateau are severely lacking in credibility and don't stand up to close scrutiny.

I felt this book suffers from some ambiguity about whether or not to believe the more far out new age type of ideas relating to the original building of the great pyramid and the Giza plateau.

For example the book states that the following things are possible:

1)the ancient Egyptians may have been given secret knowledge

from beings from outer space

2)the ancient Egyptians may have had an anti gravity capability

But then it sometimes disagrees with other new age theories relating to the building of the great pyramid such as those presented by Christopher Dunn in 'The Giza Power Plant'.

If the above 2 statements are true that makes many of the other new age ideas much more possible such as Dunn's theory that the great pyramid was like a form of nuclear reactor.

Another new age theory is that the pathways inside the great pyramid tell the entire history and future of the human race with every inch representing about one year.

I suspect the authors have been so thoroughly involved in traditional Egyptology that they find it hard to accept that the great pyramid was apparently built by beings who had god like powers. But even with all of their traditional knowledge and training I think they start to realize that the traditional theories don't explain everything.

This advanced civilization is sometimes referred to as 'Atlantis'.

Jeff Marzano

The Giza Power Plant : Technologies of Ancient Egypt

Edgar Cayce's Egypt: Psychic Revelations on the Most Fascinating Civilization Ever Known

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Gods of Eden: Egypt's Lost Legacy and the Genesis of Civilization

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