Secrets of the Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code [Hardcover]

Dan Burstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 8, 2004

Secrets of the Code, a five-month New York Times bestseller, is a sweeping tour, guided by renowned experts, through the many provocative ideas raised in The Da Vinci Code. With excerpts from many original works, all-new material, and interviews with prominent scholars exploring the novel’s underlying themes, Secrets of the Code will satisfy your curiosity, engage your imagination, and provide you with insights to better understand the historical and religious issues of the novel.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

There is no more comprehensive and definitive guide to The Da Vinci Code than Secrets of the Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code. Dan Brown’s bestselling novel, The Da Vinci Code, has captivated the imagination of millions of readers. Its provocative story and rich historical background has spurred wide interest in the author’s source materials and has aroused controversies, both public and private, all over America. Readers are fascinated by the questions raised in The Da Vinci Code. Was Jesus actually married to Mary Magdalene? Was she one of his disciples and did she write her own gospel? Did they have a child together? Did some geniuses of art and science, people like Leonardo Da Vinci and Isaac Newton, belong to secret societies that had the most compelling insider information in history, and did Leonardo convey some of these ideas in The Last Supper and other paintings?

What is fact? What is fiction?

Dan Burstein’s Secrets of the Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code sorts out fact, informed speculation, and fiction, by presenting the views of the experts—archeologists, theologians, art historians, philosophers and scientists—many of whose works Brown himself relied upon in developing his intriguing tale. Secrets of the Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code is the definitive guide to the novel and provides the curious reader with an authoritative sweeping tour, guided by renowned experts, through the many provocative ideas raised in the bestselling novel.

With excerpts from many original works, all-new material, and interviews with prominent scholars, exploring the themes underlying the Dan Brown novel, Secrets of the Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code will satisfy your curiosity, engage your imagination, and provide you with insights to better understand the historical and religious issues of the novel.

CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDE

DIANE APOSTOLOS-CAPPADONA MICHAEL BAIGENT ESTHER DE BOER DAVID DOWNIE BETSY EBLE BART EHRMAN TIMOTHY FREKE PETER GANDY DEIRDRE GOOD SUSAN HASKINS KATHERINE L. JANSEN KAREN KING RICHARD LEIGH HENRY LINCOLN JAMES MARTIN, S.J. RICHARD MCBRIEN LAURA MILLER SHERWIN B. NULAND ELAINE PAGELS LYNN PICKNETT CLIVE PRINCE JAMES ROBINSON SIMON SINGH MARGARET STARBIRD DAVID VAN BIEMA KENNETH WOODWARD

From the Author

"My goal in writing Secrets was to explore all the major mysteries of history--from religious history to art history--suggested by the plot of The Da Vinci Code. I assume there are a lot of other readers out there like myself who want to know what is fact and what is fiction in The Da Vinci Code. Secrets will give everyone the tools to be able to develop their own ideas in response to many of the provocative questions the novel touches on."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Vanguard Press (April 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593150229
• ISBN-13: 978-1593150228
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #786,063 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

148 of 154 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent....substance and trivia... May 23, 2004

By Dianne Foster HALL OF FAME

Format:Hardcover

SECRETS OF THE CODE by Dan Burstein describes itself as the unauthorized guide to Dan Brown's THE DAVINCI CODE, apparently because Brown has a website that acts as the "official" guide for readers interested in the source material he used to construct his book. However, rather than point to a long list of books, many of which I have read, Burstein's book also focuses on passages of those books that are relevant to the script of Brown's book.

Most amazingly Brown's book did not include as much as it could have. Although he may have relied on some sources more than others, it becomes apparent on reading Burstein's book that Brown (and Burstein) faced an almost overwhelming amount of material.

Burstein has excerpted relevant passages from many works, interviewed a notable list of authors including Dan Brown, and included material from articles about Brown's book or some aspect of the book found in various respected publications. Probably one of the most interesting sections includes reflections, comments and articles by individuals who currently belong or have belonged to Opus Dei. Theologians, art historians, and at least one "symbologist" have been included in the list of folks to comment on varous topics in the book.

In one section, the journalist David Shugarts responds to questions he has previously researched concerning the technical aspects of the plot. He reports on "geographical positioning systems (GPS), maps, automobiles, logistics, aircraft, weapons and computer search engines, and other technological plot elements. According to Shugarts, Mr. Brown got many thing right and several things wrong.

I liked this book very much because I found it informative without being judgmental, and sections of it are as interesting as the original Brown book.... Although the various contributors have their own often opposing points of view which they often express, Mr. Burstein, as nearly as I can tell, has no position one way or another, and thus acts as a reasonable mediator. Read more ›

209 of 226 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Code decoded????? May 11, 2004

By Robert Busko TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I suspect that it was inevitable that with the success of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code it was only a matter of time before the copy-cats began showing up. Secrets of the Code by Dan Burstein isn't exactly like a copy-cat, but it does bang on the points made by Brown. In fact, this is really the fourth book dealing with some aspect of Grail mythology.....

Burstein has pulled together contributors from a wide range of disciplines....archaeology, art history, religion, philosopy among others. While I don't recognize the contibutors, we are led to believe that they represent of leaders in their respective fields.

If you've been captivated by Browns book, then Secrets of the Code is a must read for you. A quick look around book stores or public libraries will reveal a wide range of other books on the general topics of Mary Magdalene, the Holy Grail, and Templar mythology....but honestly, Secrets of the Code is among the best.

Dan Browns Da Vinci Code is probably one of the most controversial books to appear since I've been dealing with the reading public as a librarian. Secrets of the Code, if read and heeded, will give you the facts you need to debate Browns book intelligently.

Get the book....read it.

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars THE starting point to finding YOUR OWN answers. June 5, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

Out of all of the books out there that attempt to explore the ideas from The Da Vinci Code, this one is by far the best jumping off point.

Many of the books out there are written very one-sided, either trying to discredit all of Dan Brown's work or taking it to the extreme. This book takes the ideas one at a time and presents many different opinions on them -- conservative, extreme, and opinions in between.

The author is basically a person who didn't know much about this stuff prior to reading The Da Vinci Code. Like many of us, he wanted to learn more. He went out, researched all the material he could get his hands on, and presents all the ideas he found here.

He doesn't take the arguments, and try to draw conclusions and tell you what happened. He just says here is what different people think and why. It's up to you, the reader, to form your own opinion from all of the different arguments out there.

It is a great way to begin your search for more information. It presents many different viewpoints, using excerpts from books, magazines, websites, and interviews.

The sources of all the arguments are clearly identified, so you know just where to go to explore certain ideas further.

This is the ultimate starting point to finding your own answers.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Exellent discussion of the theories behind DVC August 27, 2004

By Big Wind

Format:Hardcover

I am very impressed with how thorough and intelligent this book is. After reading a couple of other books claiming to answer the questions asked in Dan Brown's book (Hanegraaff and Maier's "DVC: Fact or Fiction?" and Lunn's "DVC Decoded") I was hungry for a book that didn't just blindly believe conspiracies or biblical word. Burstein has collected a full range of essays that cover all sides of this argument. I feel like I have learned a lot about the early Christian church, Gnosticism, the Templars, and the controversy behind the Priory of Sion. And I feel prepared for many "water cooler discussions" when the upcoming movie is released.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent if you have an interested open mind September 7, 2005

By A. Wilkinson

Format:Hardcover

As others have said, this book is not for anyone encumbered with religious blinkers. Neither will it answer the big question of exactly how much of "The Da Vinci Code" is truth and how much is fiction - though you will be able to classify quite a lot of it.

What it will do is clarify what is known, what is speculative and what is unknown. And it will give you a head start into a lot of history which is fascinating and was never taught in any religious classes I attended. Had it been, I would likely have been and remained a lot more interested.

So if you know it all and just want your knowledge confirmed, avoid this book. It will just upset you and maybe even confuse you with doubt.

But if you want to hear informed and sometimes conflicting views and arguments and learn a lot of most interesting facts about the foundations of western culture and thought, this is a great read.