Motel of the Mysteries (Paperback)

by David Macaulay (Author)
Key Phrases: Sacred Urn, Motel of the Mysteries, Great Sign

Editorial Reviews

Review
"David Macaulay . . . is a superb craftsman and an imaginative writer and illustrator . . . His new book is a marvel of imagination and a comfortable satire. He projects a time when our civilization will have been buried . . . As always with Mr. Macaulay's books, wonderfully illustrated." -- Review

Review

"David Macaulay . . . is a superb craftsman and an imaginative writer and illustrator . . . His new book is a marvel of imagination and a comfortable satire. He projects a time when our civilization will have been buried . . . As always with Mr. Macaulay's books, wonderfully illustrated." The New York Times

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Product Details Paperback: 96 pages Publisher: Sandpiper (October 11, 1979) Language: English ISBN-10: 0395284252 ISBN-13: 978-0395284254 Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (36 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,661 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #1 in  Books > Gay & Lesbian > Literature & Fiction > Literary Criticism #9 in  Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( M ) > Macaulay, David #34 in  Books > Entertainment > Humor > Parodies

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Sacred Urn, Motel of the Mysteries, Great Sign

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Citations (learn more)

44 books cite this book:

• Death-Ritual and Social Structure in Classical Antiquity (Key Themes in Ancient History) by Ian Morris on page 104, page 105, and Back Matter
• Collective Action and Radicalism in Brazil: Women, Urban Housing and Rural Movements (Studies in Comparative Political Economy and Public Policy) by Michel Duquette in Front Matter, and page 64
• Big Plans: The Allure and Folly of Urban Design (Center Books on Contemporary Landscape Design) by Kenneth Kolson on page 183, and Back Matter
• Big Plans: The Allure and Folly of Urban Design (Center Books on Contemporary Landscape Design) by Kenneth Kolson on page 183, and Back Matter
• Living History in the Classroom: Integrative Arts Activities for Making Social Studies Meaningful by Douglas Selwyn on page 179, and page 183

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Customer Reviews

36 Reviews 5 star:  (30) 4 star:  (5) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.8 out of 5 stars (36 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 19 of 20 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A book ALL Archaeologists / Historians should read, July 25, 2003 By  Gordon K. Werner (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    If you are a fan of David Macaulay's books about the contruction of such wonders as a Cathedral, Pyramid, City, Mill, etc ... then you will really enjoy this book about future archaeologists / explorers "discovering" the burried ruins of an American motel room in the 41st century ... and the miss-identification of just about every item found. I think that this is a book that every archaeologist / historian should read because it perfectly explains the traps that we may fall into when trying to explain the past using present day knowledge and sensibilities. The events portrayed in this book show the reader just how easy it is to make a mistake ... even when one's best intentions are at stake. Then again, it is a David Macaulay (always great) and it is funny! Especially the Museum Gift Store items displayed at the end of the book. 18 of 19 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A funny send up of a scholarly subject., August 17, 2001 By  Atheen M. Wilson "Atheen" (Mpls, MN United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    This book was actually a gift from my Mother who knows I enjoy things archaeological and historical. Since she`s more than a trifle eccentric and has a marvelous sense of the absurd, I've a sneaking suspicion she was poking a little fun at me--which is something I probably need once in a while for my own good. The Motel of the Mysteries is a wonderful send up of the fields of archaeology and history. It's aim is doubtless to entertain, at which it's vastly successful, but over and above that the book makes quite clear what archaeology legitimately can and cannot do. I think it also points out that what is taken as "The Reality" of the past is often as much a function of current cultural biases and of the personal motives of individual researchers as it is of what actually occurred in the past. (This was made quite clear to me when I saw Knossos on Crete for the first time and realized that a great deal of imagination had gone into the reconstruction of the "Minoan" buildings there). My favorite parts of Motel were Archaeologist Carson's interpretation of the hotel bathroom as the inner sanctum of a religious structure and the subsequent depiction of his assistant--ala Heinrich Schliemann with the Trojan treasure and Leonard Wooley with the Ur III treasure--wearing bathroom accoutrements as religious paraphernalia. The author also pokes fun at museums and at all of us, when he includes a collection of "Souvenirs and Quality Reproductions" available for sale at the end of the book. My favorite is the coffee set based on the "sacred urn" (toilet). Goodness knows I've purchased my fair share of quality reproductions on my travels throughout the world! This should be suggested reading for every college history and archeology major and required for those seeking degrees over BA in these fields! 19 of 21 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Funny Book Easy To Read Good For All Ages, August 4, 1998 By A Customer Recently, I have come across one of the books that I had a whille back and I was really excited to read it. The book is called Motel of the Mysteries and is written by David MacAulay. In this book the story starts in the present where the whole intire Northern American Continent is covered with an avalance of junk mail. Instantly killing everyone, there is not much known about the 'Yanks' from then on. That is untill the year 4022 where an amateur archeologist finds himself at the entrance of an ancient 'Usa' burial site. This book is interesting to read because the reader is left to wonder how much do the 'experts' of today really understand about the ancient civilizations. It is a very cute book and isn't that hard to read so a young reader could enjoy it as well as an older one. Overall I think Motel of the Mysteries is a funny book and should be read by anyone interested in history and humor. - Cole		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting parody This is a very short book. I would imagine it is supposed to be geared to a younger audience. It involves the interpretations of 41st century archeologist in excavating a Motel... Read more Published 3 months ago by Mythadventures 5.0 out of 5 stars Funny but not no much for kids I really enjoyed this when I read it years ago in school. I bought it for my 9 year old thinking he'd really enjoy it too, but now I realize that the humor is a bit over his head... Read more Published 4 months ago by M. Marek 5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Send-Up I attended the premiere of this book at the University of Pennsylvania many, many years ago due to my parent's donations to the local public television station. Read more Published 8 months ago by Jennifer L. Tilden 5.0 out of 5 stars Motel of the Mysteries It was recomended by a teacher friend. It's quirky, funny & full of imagination. I have read books by Elisabeth Peters on archeology & discovering Egyption tombs so I enjoyed this... Read more Published 11 months ago by Missy's Mom 5.0 out of 5 stars this book is a "scream!" When this book first was published, the Hotel Technology department head inadvertently had the college library purchase this book for the department. Read more Published 13 months ago by Barbara Stienstra 5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle poke at our preconceptions I've carried my copy of this book over many moves. It grows on me each time I read it. Originally it seemed just a humourous retelling of the Carter discovery of Tutankhamun and... Read more Published 13 months ago by Richard Campbell 5.0 out of 5 stars Join in the mysteries! The 41st Century is full of mysteries. Like what happened to Ancient Yankees who lived in North America? Why did they die out and how did they live. Read more Published 17 months ago by Michael Valdivielso 3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting perspective Motel of the mysteries is a fun, easy read. Everyday items are seen in the light of future archeologists, with interesting, funny and sometimes insightful interpretations... Read more Published 17 months ago by J. R. Watson 5.0 out of 5 stars Teacher approved My students are looking at ancient cultures and what a great book to start with. We learn about making inferences from observation and our own prior knowledge. Read more Published 18 months ago 5.0 out of 5 stars The fun book Absolutely enjoyable, all age readership done with genuine style and that utterly necessary dose of humor so lacking in our modern world. Read more Published 21 months ago by Clarence Shellito Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (October 11, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395284252
• ISBN-13: 978-0395284254
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,661 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #1 in	Books > Gay & Lesbian > Literature & Fiction > Literary Criticism
  #9 in	Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( M ) > Macaulay, David
  #34 in	Books > Entertainment > Humor > Parodies

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book ALL Archaeologists / Historians should read, July 25, 2003

By	Gordon K. Werner (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are a fan of David Macaulay's books about the contruction of such wonders as a Cathedral, Pyramid, City, Mill, etc ... then you will really enjoy this book about future archaeologists / explorers "discovering" the burried ruins of an American motel room in the 41st century ... and the miss-identification of just about every item found.

I think that this is a book that every archaeologist / historian should read because it perfectly explains the traps that we may fall into when trying to explain the past using present day knowledge and sensibilities.

The events portrayed in this book show the reader just how easy it is to make a mistake ... even when one's best intentions are at stake.

Then again, it is a David Macaulay (always great) and it is funny! Especially the Museum Gift Store items displayed at the end of the book.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A funny send up of a scholarly subject., August 17, 2001

By	Atheen M. Wilson "Atheen" (Mpls, MN United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This book was actually a gift from my Mother who knows I enjoy things archaeological and historical. Since she`s more than a trifle eccentric and has a marvelous sense of the absurd, I've a sneaking suspicion she was poking a little fun at me--which is something I probably need once in a while for my own good.

The Motel of the Mysteries is a wonderful send up of the fields of archaeology and history. It's aim is doubtless to entertain, at which it's vastly successful, but over and above that the book makes quite clear what archaeology legitimately can and cannot do. I think it also points out that what is taken as "The Reality" of the past is often as much a function of current cultural biases and of the personal motives of individual researchers as it is of what actually occurred in the past. (This was made quite clear to me when I saw Knossos on Crete for the first time and realized that a great deal of imagination had gone into the reconstruction of the "Minoan" buildings there).

My favorite parts of Motel were Archaeologist Carson's interpretation of the hotel bathroom as the inner sanctum of a religious structure and the subsequent depiction of his assistant--ala Heinrich Schliemann with the Trojan treasure and Leonard Wooley with the Ur III treasure--wearing bathroom accoutrements as religious paraphernalia.

The author also pokes fun at museums and at all of us, when he includes a collection of "Souvenirs and Quality Reproductions" available for sale at the end of the book. My favorite is the coffee set based on the "sacred urn" (toilet). Goodness knows I've purchased my fair share of quality reproductions on my travels throughout the world!

This should be suggested reading for every college history and archeology major and required for those seeking degrees over BA in these fields!

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny Book Easy To Read Good For All Ages, August 4, 1998

By A Customer

Recently, I have come across one of the books that I had a whille back and I was really excited to read it. The book is called Motel of the Mysteries and is written by David MacAulay.

In this book the story starts in the present where the whole intire Northern American Continent is covered with an avalance of junk mail. Instantly killing everyone, there is not much known about the 'Yanks' from then on. That is untill the year 4022 where an amateur archeologist finds himself at the entrance of an ancient 'Usa' burial site.

This book is interesting to read because the reader is left to wonder how much do the 'experts' of today really understand about the ancient civilizations. It is a very cute book and isn't that hard to read so a young reader could enjoy it as well as an older one. Overall I think Motel of the Mysteries is a funny book and should be read by anyone interested in history and humor.

- Cole