Perfectibilists: The 18th Century Bavarian Order of the Illuminati (Paperback)

~ Terry Melanson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Presenting an advanced and authoritative perspective, this definitive study chronicles the rise and fall of the Order of the Illuminati, a mysterious Enlightenment-era guild surrounded by myth. Describing this enigmatic community in meticulous detail, more than 1,000 endnotes are included, citing scholars, professors, and academics. Contemporary accounts and the original documents of the Illuminati themselves are covered as well. Copiously illustrated and featuring biographies of more than 400 confirmed members, this survey brings to light a 200-year-old mystery.

About the Author

Terry Melanson is the owner and developer of the popular online Illuminati Conspiracy Archive and has been writing about the Illuminati since 2000. He lives in Moncton, New Brunswick.

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Product Details Paperback: 531 pages Publisher: Trine Day (January 31, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 0977795381 ISBN-13: 978-0977795383 Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.1 inches Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #255,398 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in this category: (What's this?) #95 in  Books > History > World > 18th Century

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews 5 star:  (4) 4 star:  (3) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.6 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 7 of 7 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable research work, April 1, 2009 By  Christopher L. Hodapp "Author - "Freemaso... (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Amazon Verified Purchase Possibly the most important English language work on the Bavarian Illuminati ever published to date. Based on documentation translated from French and German sources, Melanson keeps hysteria and paranoia to a minimum and provides an incredible reference work that outlines the history of the Order and its far-reaching cast of characters. Researched, footnoted and sourced in great detail, with documents never seen in English. Not the first book to pick up, as it assumes a certain amount of prior knowledge of the subject (see the Illuminati section of Vernon Stauffer's 'New England and the Bavarian Illuminati', which contains one of the best introductions on the Order to date), but VERY highly recommended to the serious scholar. Only two reservations. First, the 'Skull & Bones' chapter seems to have flown in from another planet (or possibly a marketing department's request), and it stands out oddly. Second, Melanson makes no distinction between the different factions of Freemasonry that were expanding in continental Europe in the 1700s. Stauffer does a good job pointing out the differences in his book between the social club Anglo-Saxon Masons; the mystical Rosicrucian-style Masons who were attempting to make their brand more mysterious; and the Enlightenment social reformers of the Grand Orient of France who were involved in political movements. One style of Masonry was not the same as the next, and each had very different goals. But this is possibly a minor point and my own obsession. I disagree strongly with Melanson's[...] website on a regular basis, and I think he and his fellow bloggers there seek boogeymen and a hyper-competent all-seeing, all-knowing criminal class of evildoers that control the world. But The Perfectibilists does not engage in the hysterics of that website. Melanson has produced a solid work of scholarship, and he is to be commended. 3 of 4 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Groundbreaking, March 10, 2009 By  Tanner Fistler (Seal Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    I have studied the Illuminati for years through various conspiracy books and websites. There can be a lot of confusion and misconceptions about who they were and what they were trying to accomplish. If I only had this book years ago, my research would have been faster and more complete. The book is well sourced, giving follow up reading, websites as well as known members. This is probably the most in depth volume on the Illuminati that you can find without having to learn German. Hopefully this trend will continue, and the public will take more interest in the enlightenment societies that shaped our nation and western civilization for that matter. 5.0 out of 5 stars The ULTIMATE Illuminati Book! Accept nothing less!, July 17, 2009 By  Cedric M. Klein (Madison, IN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    As a long-ago Bircher & a now-mellow Christian bleeding-heart-right-wing-libertarian, THIS is the best book now in English on the historical Illuminati. I was amazed to see how much Conspiracy-Theory could now be documented and I was gladdened to see some old counter-productive myths totally debunked. The Illuminati was real, was a threat, and there are wanna-be Illuminati now who want to pose similar threats. BUT there is no indication that there IS an Illuminati with nigh-unstoppable power. I wish someone had done this book back in my Birchy phase of 1979-1982. I wouldn't have gone overboard one way and then dropped it totally when I got disillusioned. From now on, no one has the right to opine on the Illuminati unless they either have read this book or shows themselves to be more knowledgeable than Terry Melanson.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars A solid amatuer history For a long time I've been interested in historical Illuminati accounts (as opposed to the fictional or conspiracy-inspired accounts) and vacillated on whether to buy this book... Read more Published 4 months ago by Leon Napo 5.0 out of 5 stars A thorough record of the Eighteenth Century Order of the Bavarian IIluminati I had been awaiting this book for some time and it was indeed worth the wait. Having being fascinated with the idea of "societies with secrets" and subversive movements for some... Read more Published 4 months ago by Justin Russell 5.0 out of 5 stars A treat for any with an interest in secret societies, and who want to learn about one that truly existed Secret societies make for great yarns or movies - but there are those secret societies that have actually existed. Read more Published 5 months ago by Midwest Book Review 4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book..... First things first, I am a male in my late twenties of German decent. I am university educated and my favorite time period is the enlightenment. I absolutely love this book. Read more Published 6 months ago by M. G. Mohring Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 531 pages
• Publisher: Trine Day (January 31, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977795381
• ISBN-13: 978-0977795383
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #255,398 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #95 in

  Books > History > World > 18th Century

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable research work, April 1, 2009

By	Christopher L. Hodapp "Author - "Freemaso... (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Possibly the most important English language work on the Bavarian Illuminati ever published to date. Based on documentation translated from French and German sources, Melanson keeps hysteria and paranoia to a minimum and provides an incredible reference work that outlines the history of the Order and its far-reaching cast of characters. Researched, footnoted and sourced in great detail, with documents never seen in English. Not the first book to pick up, as it assumes a certain amount of prior knowledge of the subject (see the Illuminati section of Vernon Stauffer's 'New England and the Bavarian Illuminati', which contains one of the best introductions on the Order to date), but VERY highly recommended to the serious scholar.

Only two reservations. First, the 'Skull & Bones' chapter seems to have flown in from another planet (or possibly a marketing department's request), and it stands out oddly. Second, Melanson makes no distinction between the different factions of Freemasonry that were expanding in continental Europe in the 1700s. Stauffer does a good job pointing out the differences in his book between the social club Anglo-Saxon Masons; the mystical Rosicrucian-style Masons who were attempting to make their brand more mysterious; and the Enlightenment social reformers of the Grand Orient of France who were involved in political movements. One style of Masonry was not the same as the next, and each had very different goals. But this is possibly a minor point and my own obsession.

I disagree strongly with Melanson's[...] website on a regular basis, and I think he and his fellow bloggers there seek boogeymen and a hyper-competent all-seeing, all-knowing criminal class of evildoers that control the world. But The Perfectibilists does not engage in the hysterics of that website. Melanson has produced a solid work of scholarship, and he is to be commended.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Groundbreaking, March 10, 2009

By	Tanner Fistler (Seal Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have studied the Illuminati for years through various conspiracy books and websites. There can be a lot of confusion and misconceptions about who they were and what they were trying to accomplish. If I only had this book years ago, my research would have been faster and more complete. The book is well sourced, giving follow up reading, websites as well as known members. This is probably the most in depth volume on the Illuminati that you can find without having to learn German. Hopefully this trend will continue, and the public will take more interest in the enlightenment societies that shaped our nation and western civilization for that matter.

5.0 out of 5 stars The ULTIMATE Illuminati Book! Accept nothing less!, July 17, 2009

By	Cedric M. Klein (Madison, IN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a long-ago Bircher & a now-mellow Christian bleeding-heart-right-wing-libertarian, THIS is the best book now in English on the historical Illuminati. I was amazed to see how much Conspiracy-Theory could now be documented and I was gladdened to see some old counter-productive myths totally debunked. The Illuminati was real, was a threat, and there are wanna-be Illuminati now who want to pose similar threats. BUT there is no indication that there IS an Illuminati with nigh-unstoppable power. I wish someone had done this book back in my Birchy phase of 1979-1982. I wouldn't have gone overboard one way and then dropped it totally when I got disillusioned.

From now on, no one has the right to opine on the Illuminati unless they either have read this book or shows themselves to be more knowledgeable than Terry Melanson.