A History of Secret Societies

Rating:
Summary: A bit lacking on novel 'secret' information
Review: I'm afraid that these 'historical' reviews seemed a little short on unique information that I haven't seen elsewhere. I was also disappointed in the apparent random placement of diagrams that seemed to have notthing to do with the text. For example, within the first 7 chapters, there were numerous diagrams of encryption codes used by secret societies, but yet there was absolutely no discussion about secret codes anywhere in the text. Perhaps I'm missing the real 'code' hidden somewhere between the typeface of the printed page, but as a useful historical perspective on what 'secret societies' are all about, how they differ, how they perhaps associalte or embattle each other, or most importantly, how they might impact (positively or negatively) our lives today, I feel the value of this book was lost on me; or perhaps it's just a 'secret'.

Rating:
Summary: Follow the Pseudonym
Review: It should be kept in mind by the reader of this book that the writer's real name is Idries Shah, who is rather better known for his Sufi books. His scholarship here is about as thorough as it is in his other works. His writings on the Isma'ilis are almost totally based on the accounts of Marco Polo and are otherwise devoid of historical accuracy.

Rating:
Summary: So-so
Review: Written under one of Idris Shah's many pen names. This book provides a dated and suspicously incomplete overview of some so-called secret societies. One howler is that he considers the Tibetan Buddhists a secret society! - they never were but until the earlier 1900's certainly inaccessible to most foreigners. I guess Shah thought that his audience was too stupid to figure this one out. Another is the so-called Illuminati he makes a connection with Bayazid Ansari's atheistic cult of libertines and bandits with Adam Weishaupt group. However he provides no references to back up this claim.

Overall this book is a ok place to start with secret societies - but PLEASE take what the author says with a grain of salt. Shah has a history of playing it fast and loose with facts in order to support his many claims like being the Grand Shiekh of all Sufis and which is not recognized by any Sufi orders - Naqshbandi, Mevlevi, etc,