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Secret Societies Hardcover – July 30, 2006
| Nick Harding (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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- Print length160 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherChartwell Books
- Publication dateJuly 30, 2006
- Dimensions5 x 0.75 x 7.5 inches
- ISBN-100785821708
- ISBN-13978-0785821700
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Product details
- Publisher : Chartwell Books; 0 edition (July 30, 2006)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 160 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0785821708
- ISBN-13 : 978-0785821700
- Item Weight : 9.6 ounces
- Dimensions : 5 x 0.75 x 7.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #8,122,521 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #7,494 in Historical Study Reference (Books)
- #9,964 in History Encyclopedias
- #28,315 in Popular Culture in Social Sciences
- Customer Reviews:
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It's difficult to imagine who the book's intended audience might be. Surely it isn't aimed at knowledgeable students of secret societies, if any, because they certainly would know much more about these groups than they would be able to glean from this scant overview. And, it's hard to believe that casual readers with no great knowledge-of or interest in secret societies would be interested in these mostly obscure, irrelevant, and long-defunct societies.
In defense of the author: I suspect the real problem he faced was that "Secret Societies" by their very nature are --- you guessed it --- secret, making it extremely difficult to compile a meaningful book such as this. But that doesn't fully excuse the result: As far as this book is concerned, the essence of these secret societies has remained a secret.
I can't say this is a very important book on the subject. His treatment of the current day secret organizations is simplistic and superficial, as tho his primary research source was the encyclopedia.
More importantly, his descriptions seem to gloss over some very important questions that many American authors raise as of vital concern, such as, why are they secret? Why is their membership secret? What to they do in secrecy? Since secrecy is so important, why do they hide their activities? The obvious conclusion, that secret societies must have something to hide, is avoided.
The Freemasons threaten death and dismemberment to those who reveal its secrets. What is so important that such a threat is made? Higher level freemasons also take an oath to help other Freemasons out of tight spots over any other consideration, including, it is asserted,lying under oath.
Mr. Harding's conclusions are also superficial and simplistic. and dismiss the deep concerns that many have over the subject of secret societies and evil conspiracies, as simple paranoia. But it's hard to say what his real theme is, as his comments go in many different directions, and are ambivalent at best. One could get the impression that he is an agent of one or more secret organizations, putting a good face on them. Perhaps he hasn't really thought out what he wants to say. I am giving this book a rating of "3" rather than "2" as one or two of his observations do have some merit. However, I would borrow this book rather than buy it.
In Christian circles, we are taught that one of Satan's primary goals is to convice humankind that he doesn't exist. Satan's primary goal is to offend God by corrupting humankind and leading them away from God. The secret, unaccountable activities of secret societies seem to be an excellent way to do this by promoting a secret political, religious, social, or economic agenda. Undoubtedly, many secular humanists will be "offended" by this. All I have to say is, "tough, wake up."