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

~ Dan Burstein (Author) "Mary Magdalene is, in many ways, the star of The Da Vinci Code, and it is fitting that she should be the starting point for..." (more)
Key Phrases: plot flaws, holy bloodline, woman with the alabaster jar, Dan Brown, Mary Magdalene, Opus Dei (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

How to satisfy the endless hunger for information among the millions of readers caught up in The Da Vinci Code mania? Secrets of the Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code is the most comprehensive, literate guide available for interpreting the intellectual intricacies of Dan Brown's bestselling novel.

This unprecedented volume provides a wealth of fresh insight from the world's most respected authorities on the novel's controversial historical, religious, artistic, and scientific themes. Interviews and commentary from renowned scientists, theologians, archeologists, philosophers, historians, and art historians address such provocative topics as:

* What was the true identity of Mary Magdalene? Was Mary Magdalene a disciple of Jesus and did she write her own gospel?

* Was Jesus married to Mary Magdalene? Did they have a child together?

* In the late 1960s, the Church publicly reversed its 1,400-year-old position that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute, but this revised history was never effectively communicated to the public. Has there been a "cover-up" of the role of women in church history?

* Did some geniuses of art and science--like Leonardo DaVinci and Isaac Newton--belong to secret societies that had the most compelling "insider information" in history? Did Leonardo convey some of the ideas in The Last Supper and other paintings?

Packed with excerpts from many original works, all-new material, and interviews with prominent scholars, Secrets of the Code will satisfy readers'curiosity, engage their imagination, and provide them with insights to better understand the multi-facted mysteries, secret codes, and messages embedded in the novel. Meticulously researched and compulsively readable, this volume is an excellent choice for book clubs and discussion groups.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dan Burstein is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author of six books on global economics and technology, including Yen! Euroquake, Road Warriors, and Big Dragon. The founder of Millennium Technology Ventures, a New York-based venture capital firm that invests in innovative new technology companies, he has often written about the mysteries and complexities of the future. Secrets of the Code is his first book that explores mysteries and complexities of the past. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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 --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• ISBN-10: 1593150229
• ASIN: B000H0M6JQ
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #917,573 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

146 of 152 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Dianne Foster "Di" (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Secrets of the Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code (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.

209 of 225 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Robert Busko (Waynesville, NC USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Secrets of the Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code (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.

50 of 52 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

This review is from: Secrets of the Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind The Da Vinci Code (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.