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Supernatural: Meetings with the Ancient Teachers of Mankind | 
 enlarge | Author: Graham Hancock
Publisher: Arrow Books Ltd
Category: Book
List Price: £10.99
Buy New: £5.65
You Save: £5.34 (49%)
New (21) Used (2) from £5.65
Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 7702
Media: Paperback
Edition: New Ed
Pages: 864
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 4.4 x 2.4
ISBN: 0099474158
EAN: 9780099474159
ASIN: 0099474158
Publication Date: October 5, 2006
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new book dispatched from stock in the UK
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| Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...
More Research Needed April 3, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I recently purchased this book. It was great except for one thing. Hancock totally ignores Western Tradition. We also have Shamans, mainly Celtic ones like John Matthews who does not rely on drugs. Also it is surprising that Hancock's visions were the same as the ones of his hosts. Normally it is impossible to access the otherworld of another tradition. He should have seen the symbols of Celtic/Norse tradition. He also ignores the fact that modern that modern day Wiccans still work with the Sidhe (fairy folk). They have not just turned into grey aliens. He would be advised to read 'The Song of Taliesin' and read the chapters 'Journey to the Summer Stars' and 'Defence of the Chair' then see if he comes to the same conclusions.
Thought provoking February 9, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Another good book by Graham Hancock that like his other books really makes you think.
In the first 2 parts the author looks at stone age art found in caves and rock shelters across Europe and Africa, and how these often very strange looking images frequently featuring beings that look part human part animal could have been depicted based on what the artists may have experienced in altered states of consciousness. He looks at numerous pieces of ancient art as well as descriptions by alot of modern day shamans of their experiences in these realms, the various different methods used to attain this, his own visions under the influence of certain psychoactive plants, as well as the research done by Professor David Lewis-Williams. This takes up about the first 350 pages, and while there is certainly alot to take in ,I think the amount of evidence he presents is necessary, as anything less would have weakened his argument.
The next part deals with folklore and ufo's particularly alien abductions, and the various similarities between the 2. This is very similar to what Jacques Vallee has written about in his books "Passport to Magonia" and "Dimensions" both of which I would recommend reading as this is a fascinating subject and the connection between the 2 phenomena is all too often overlooked in many ufo books.
Part 4 includes details about the experiences of the volunteers who took part in Dr Rick Strassman's DMT project and how alot of them experienced what appeared to be highly artificial computer like realms,and the possible significance of this. He then looks at the possibility that all these visions and experiences in altered states may come from accessing stored information within our DNA and the theory proposed by the nobel prize winner Francis Crick that DNA could have been deliberately rather than naturally created. I think he does a good job in presenting evidence in support of the theory, and it also makes very interesting reading.
In the last couple of parts he looks at how altered states of consciousness and the supernatural have effected religions around the world. I thought he was particularly insightful in this area not just in describing how supernatural experiences may have been the ultimate source and inspiration for alot of beliefs but also in what he describes as the bureaucratisation of shamanism where the original experiences and beliefs can quickly lose their inherent value when the leaders/priests of these religions who having no supernatural experiences themselves seek to deny that crucial aspect.
I thought that the author seemed to get a bit bogged down when he tried to show how experiences in altered states of conscious are just as real as our everyday reality. I think he would have found it alot easier if instead of trying to show how real these supernatural realms and experiences are,if he'd have tried to show how unreal this reality is eg that the universe is essentially just a hologram. Once you realize this, the issue of how real altered states of consciousness are compared to our everyday reality becomes a non issue. For more on this I would recommend the books "stalking the wild pendulum" by Itzhak Bentov and "the holographic universe" by Michael Talbot.
Overall this is a very good book and definately well worth the read.
 Amazing.... February 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
in my view Hancocks best work to date.
The subject matter is "way out there".. and this book may just question everything you think about yourself, life and existance.
There are many "new age" books.. and many are tripe and should be thrown away. Its important not to throw the baby out with the bath water though, and I don't think you should tar all new age books with the same brush.
This one shouldn't be tarred at all.
If you can get a first edition then it has more chapters than the rewrite,.. in the first edition the first half of the book is very heavy going, like a scientific essay. This is why I believe it was adjusted in the later editions. The extra chapters are worth it though. (IMO).
If this kind of book can affect you deeply... then be careful.. as this one may just be a window onto the truth.
Fascinating December 25, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Took a little while to really get going, but well worth it. Some of the theories in the book are mind boggling, but having seen some of the San rock art first hand in the Natural History Museum in Cape Town and the accompaniying video footage of Shamanic dancing I find Mr Hancock's theory regarding rock art not only compelling, but the obvious conclusion. The book is well referenced which allows you to check sources or to do follow up reading on specific areas. The reviewers who have given only 1 star I suspect just can't handle ideas that are too "way out there", of which there are many, and have given an unbalanced emotional response because they feel robbed of their time & effort. It is "way out there", but be open minded. My subsequent reading on DMT supports some of the ideas in this book. There are more things in Heaven & Earth, Horatio...
 Stay away December 19, 2007
2 out of 10 found this review helpful
This book is atrociously bad. It's central premise assumes you believe in the supernatural, and if you don't it won't convince you of anything. After reading 150 pages, I did not encounter a single scientific fact. The author makes allusions to a supernatural realm based on his personal interpretations of cave art, as well from his very typical hallucinogenic drug experiences. Early on in the book he mentions the grief and guilt he feels for not being with his father while he was on his death bed and uses this as motivation in his search for a supernatural realm. Wow, now isn't that subjective?!!
This book is a non-serious, unscientific, uninformative, leisurely read which won't impress any logical thinker. A complete waste of time.
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