Ancient Mysteries by Peter James and Nick Thorpe

For centuries, philosophers, scientists, and charlatans have attempted to decipher the baffling mysteries of our past, from Stonehenge to the lost continent of Atlantis. Today, however, DNA testing, radiocarbon dating, and other cutting-edge investigative tools, together with a healthy dose of common sense, are guiding us closer to the truth. Now historian Peter James and archaeologist Nick Thorpe tackle these age-old conundrums, presenting the latest information from the scientific community–and the most startling challenges to traditional explanations of mysteries such as:

• The rise and fall of the Maya
• A lost cache of Dead Sea Scrolls
• The curse of Tutankhamun
• The devastation of Sodom and Gomorrah
• The Nazca Lines and the Vinland Map
• The existence of Robin Hood

These true mystery stories twist and turn like a good whodunit, as James and Thorpe present the evidence for and against the expert theories, shedding new light on humankind’s age-old struggle to make sense of the past. Ancient Mysteries will entertain and enlighten, delight the curious and inform the serious.

Stichley's Rating: 
Okay this book is a little different from the usual fare found here.  It looks like a reference book, doesn't it? Well I picked it up at the mall on one of those bargain bins and ended up reading the whole thing.  It is easy to read and interesting .  All these little facts and information about all sorts of mysteries from the past... Some I didn't even know about.  It could use some updating since archaeology has come up with new information since it was published in 2001, but all the same it is good.  It is well documented too.  I think anyone who likes history and ancient unexplained mysteries would like this.  Add it to documentaries... only books.  I like to watch documentaries and see how much they fail to now that I have read this.

Instances of Swearing:

• Hell: 2
• God: 102, but are used in appropriate context or as quotes