Unexplained: Mysteries of the Universe [Hardcover]

Colin Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997 | Age Level: 9 and up | Series: The Unexplained

Explores such mysteries as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, weird weather, and black holes.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6?Photographs and artwork are paired with captions and short paragraphs to create two irresistible packages. Mysteries of the Universe introduces natural oddities such as Uluru (Ayers Rock), rains of fish, and ball lightning. Man-made puzzles, including the Sphinx and Costa Rican stone spheres, join weeping religious statues and disappearing ships and planes. A few of the mysteries are explained scientifically, but most are just presented as baffling wonders. Some of the same oddities are examined in detail in Seymour Simon's Strange Mysteries from Around the World (Morrow, 1997). UFOs is equally entertaining, yet more realistic. While many photos familiar to UFO fans are part of this presentation, they are integrated with those of famous and lesser-known hoaxes. Actual photographs of ball lightning and of mysterious "spooklights" near Marfa, Texas, are among the illustrations unique to this volume. As colorful and comprehensive as Bob Rickard's UFOs (Watts, 1980; o.p.) yet less helpful for further investigation than Carole Marsh's Unidentified Flying Objects and Extraterrestrial Life (21st Century Bks., 1996) and Elaine Landau's UFOs (Millbrook, 1995), this title serves as an exciting introduction to a dynamic field. Some topics such as crop circles, Stonehenge, and Easter Island statues are included in both of Wilson's works. Flashy and tantalizing, these two volumes are more amusing than informative.?Ann G. Brouse, Big Flats Branch Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789421658
• ISBN-13: 978-0789421654
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,780,507 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic style good book on a usually misunderstood subject, June 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Unexplained: Mysteries of the Universe (Hardcover)

Colin Wilson is a past master at this subject--any "fringe" or, to put it using his term, "outsider" subject, has been dealt with by this author with a touch of particular genius, leading to the formation of quite a reputation for him over the years. There is always a substantial body of unexplained and mystifying information in human existence, and this is often of a nature that withstands the sharpness of the attacks, at explaining it, by the current sceptics or "experts" of the age. The result is that it then passes on into folklore or legend, which in no way affects the character or appeal of such information. This holds true whether the age is of high technology, as at present, or that of the horse and cart--which is still extant in many parts of the world. This book is just one classic and well carried out attempt at trying to meaningfully codify and explain such phenomena.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I BOUGHT THIS BOOK SO THAT I COULD FIND PHOTOS OF CHAMP & NESSIE BUT 'UNEXPLAINED: MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE' OFFERS MUCH MORE, December 31, 2006

By 

Heather L. Parisi "Robert and Heather Parisi" (St. Augustine, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Unexplained: Mysteries of the Universe (Hardcover)

IN A NUTSHELL: VERY MUCH A FUN READ

'Unexplained: Mysteries of the Universe by Colin Wilson' touches on many of the best known and most thought provoking mysteries that sit right out there in the real world of the past and the present. The book, though short [40 pages] is in over-sized format, and is well illustrated in full color. The large pictures, short text and mysterious subject matter make this a very attractive reader for young readers as they will be drawn into the topic and they will be able to finish it in one sitting quite easily.

WHAT 'Unexplained: Mysteries of the Universe', by Colin Wilson, IS ALL ABOUT:

ORGANIZATION:

With each mystery representing a short chapter; all of which include an introduction in large print, full-color pictures and illustrations with captions and some text including conclusions, the reader will have no trouble getting into the subject.

AN ABRIDGED LIST OF TOPICS: ['' depicts actual name of chapter]

PYRAMIDS -- WHO BUILT THEM AND HOW?

EASTER ISLAND -- A MYSTERY SINCE NO-ONE TODAY CAN READ THE LANGUAGE

CURSES -- FROM THE PYRAMIDS AND OTHER SOURCES

FORGOTTEN TECHNOLOGIES -- COMPUTERS FOUND THAT ARE 3,000 YEARS OLD

'STRANGE DISAPPEARANCES' -- PLANES AND SHIPS VANISH IN THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE

DINOSAURS BECOMING EXTINCT

'MONSTERS OF THE DEEP' - LOCH NESS MONSTER, CHAMP & MORE [the reason I got this book] includes photos of Champ and Nessie.

'SCARY MONSTERS' - YETTI, WILD PANTHERS IN ENGLAND TODAY


BOTTOM LINE: MORE OF A PLACE TO START THAN FINISH

This interesting survey of unexplained mysteries brushes over dozens of interesting phenomenon and provides one with either an interesting way to pass an hour or so, or a place from which to begin serious study or research from on these very compelling topics.