History Is Wrong

By: Erich von Däniken

Narrated by: John Allen Nelson

Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Erich von Däniken again shows his flair for revealing truths that his contemporaries have missed. After closely analyzing hundreds of ancient and apparently unrelated texts, he is now ready to proclaim that human history is nothing like the world religions claim---and he has the proof! In History Is Wrong, von Däniken takes a closer look at the fascinating Voynich manuscript, which has defied all attempts at decription since its discovery, and makes some intriguing revelations about the equally incredible book of Enoch.

Von Däniken also unearths the astounding story of a lost subterranean labyrinth in Ecuador said to be home to an extensive library of thousands of gold panels. He supplies evidence that the metal library has links not only to the Book of Enoch but also to the Mormons, who have spent decades searching for it, believing it to contain the history of their forefathers. And what about the mysterious lines in the desert of Nazca that resemble landing strips when viewed from the air? Archeologists claim they are ancient procession routes. "Think again!" cries von Däniken, as he reveals the data that the archeologists never even thought to check. History Is Wrong will challenge your intellect---and maybe a few long-held beliefs, too.

©2009 Erich von Daniken (P)2011 Tantor

Good book for driving

Much love/respect for Erich von Daniken and his research & writings. I enjoyed the parallels between ancient/current monotheistic and polytheistic views he has drawn on our worlds religions.

Interesting but not great

I enjoy listening to different perspectives on things, and this was a significantly different point of view from the sorts of things I believe to be true, so I was willing to give it a listen.

Personally, I can't speak for the authenticity of the accounts made in the book, but there were both veiled and direct insults at various religious groups for seemingly little reason. I understand the writer is likely frustrated at some of the opposition he has faced if his claims are to be believed, but it's extremely hard for me to even give him basic courtesy when he goes to the needless effort to belittle anyone who disagrees with him. He has likely faced much persecution for his claims, and I do feel genuinely awful for what misery he has been put through. Life is hard for anyone who is willing to see the world from a unique and different viewpoint.

What I did notice though, was some pretty significant lapses in logic when it came to deductive reasoning of his own opinions, while being strictly harsh on any conventional wisdom. I can't think of the direct examples that I heard, (I can try and find them if anyone requests them). If I recall, it was something to the affect of, "If you can believe that Y _could_ be true, then why not at least admit that X _must_ be true!?", then later discounting the opinions of 'unbelievers' by stating that they make leaps of logic without evidence, or making claims only on assertion. That they were dogged in their belief without sound reasoning. It was frustrating.

Most annoyingly of all is that there is this repeated pattern of reasonable explanations for everything. "I don't have photos of that because of this." "I saw it with my own eyes, but the people who saw it with me are dead." Etc. Again, if I am remembering correctly, there was even a claim that went so far as to say that evidence that he possessed has straight up been _stolen_ from him by some quasi-mysterious government officials. It's not that I don't believe that someone can't be robbed of important findings - I'm sure that happens often enough - it's that it seems to be this long, never ending stream of one thing after another. Conspiracies exist, sure...but global, cross-national governmental conspiracies all conspiring against a single man? Really?

Anyone who has dealt with pathological liars will see some striking similarities between their, and this authors ability to both make: fantastic claims, have no evidence to back up that claim, regularly find _new_ evidence on even _greater_ claims, become agitated at anyone who does not blindly agree, and hyper fixation on the importance of their "findings" - those findings, of course, having them as the absolute center of the narrative and being of earth shattering importance. They become the main character in their own made up world. That is exactly the same sort of experience I got when reading this book. And it's the cheesiest, most cringe-inducing thing I've ever read.

I'm not saying all of this out of religious conviction, (to say that I am religious is an understatement - I am religious) - but my religious beliefs are not why I've written this. I've written this precisely because I believe this person to be a liar. I do not say this out of anger or discord, but simply as a means of notice to anyone else who might find themselves taken in by such fantastical accounts.

I encourage you: consider, reconsider, and analyze everything. Question as much as you can, from as many people as you can. Heck, question this very review! Be willing to listen to many different points of view - this writers view included - but decide for yourself. Question not just the motive, or the need, but the clear and present facts presented. This author provides none, but an ever greater list of strung together plot points wearing the mask of a book.

always great

loved it von daniken never dissapoints. great points and views. evidence is well presented. thanks

Always interesting,

Erich con Daniken has been at the front of the line when asking questions or making observations of many ancient mysteries. Professing a belief in the One God, he is still able to put into context what he sees as ancient man’s need to explain what they have witnessed. He makes every listener question what they have been taught to believe without saying the most basic concept of God and even Christ are not true. Like Erich I do not find the revelations of past authors from a thousand years ago so much as wrong as simply misunderstood.

Long winded defense

An explination about past rumours on his career more than much new facts or discoveries…

The narrator was good. Presentation was lousy.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

nothing

What was most disappointing about Erich von Daniken’s story?

The pounding on his philosophy.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Narrator was good. No detraction there

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from History Is Wrong?

I wouldn't read it.

Any additional comments?

I must have gotten in over my head. He didn't make sense to me.

Voynich Manuscript to nowhere

Von Daniken has been one of my favorites for years now. He courageous, incessantly inquisitive, and a smooth talker. It was, therefore, with some excitement that I began listening to this book - ready to receive the mysterious knowledge like an after dinner treat.
When Erich began about the Voynich Manuscript, I heard myself exclaim"Yippee."
It all became more intriguing when he brought Crespi's treasures and the Book of Mormons into play and I thought to myself "well this is going to get really interesting!".

Alas, Erich never brought the loose ends together; repeatedly getting off-track with sanctimonious recriminations against those who have treated him with disdain in the past. Of course, I get his frustration with the scientific community and his disgust with the lies and the attempted attacks at his credibility. However, if he wanted to write a book about that, then he should have called it like "The Abuse of Scientists Against Erich van Daniken", or something similar. Of course the title conveniently allows him to address his grievances surreptitiously, but I didn't appreciate his slight of hand at all.

In spite of repeated promises throughout the book to address the Voynich Manuscript enigma, he never does so, and conveniently lets it go for the last 50% of the book. So, after reading Erich's abbreviated notes on Voynich, what one knows about the manuscript is less than what can be gleaned from Google during a quick 5 minutes browse.

His frenetic hither and thither weaving seems to be specifically designed to confuse the reader into not noticing the large gaps and holes in his arguments and attempts to "set the record straight." Perhaps van Daniken should stop penning books now, or get a decent editor to read his work, and point out the vacuities in his arguments and prose.

A Metal Library

What did you love best about History Is Wrong?

The idea of a metal library telling us about our origins is fantastic. We wish whoever is "protecting" us from the truth would stop it and let the truth be known.

What was one of the most memorable moments of History Is Wrong?

We did not care for all the author's complaints and explanations of what happened to him when he tried to tell the world about the metal library. It just went on and on and exhausted us.

What does John Allen Nelson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His Spanish accent!!! (funny, but wasn't necessary)

. . . Or simply incomplete . . .

Where does History Is Wrong rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Highest marks!

Any additional comments?

Interessante Geschichten. Erich von Däniken is not afraid to pose the question(s) others cower away from asking because his questions seem out of mainstream dogma so many learned graduates from the groves of academe accept as authoritative.

That is one of his investigative strengths. There remains much to study and investigate. In my opinion, history as written or touted by any group is neither correct nor incorrect – Just incomplete as it is a work in progress. It’s subject to interpretive changes and new data. It’s the inadaptable, sometimes-obsessed, “written-in-stone” mentality, that is incorrect to adopt.

Chariots of the Gods, it didn’t end there.

I read Chariots of the Gods after someone pointed out to me that my interpretations of the Bible were similar to Erich’s. This is another wonderful trip to a place I didn’t know existed, spiritually and actually.