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Summary: Bramley needs to learn critical thinking
Review: This treatise by William Bramley (not to be confused with Wilford Brimley) proves that with enough words, you can convince the already converted of anything. The problem is, he's not going to convince anyone else. His scholarship is sloppy, his logic more so.Bramley successfully plows the same ground pioneered by Von Daniken a full two decades ago, and his leaps of conclusion unsupported by any rationality are derived from Von Daniken as well. For instance, Bramley combs through world myths to back up his theory. Any myth he finds that supports it must be historical fact. Any myth that doesn't support it, well its just a myth. (Some of the Gods that created mankind were humanoid-- ergo, humanoid aliens. Some of the Gods weren't humanoid-- therefore, those Gods must be fanciful embellishments. That's just an early example) Problem is, you don't get to pick and choose, millennia later, which myths are correct and which aren't. Another example, again early on in the book, is when Bramley is trying to convince the reader that UFOs exist. The best of his arguments, the one's that aren't downright fallacious or invalid, basically amount to "there's no reason they shouldn't exist." True. But this is a blatant appeal to ignorance. There's no reason Harvey, the six-foot invisible rabbit, shouldn't exist either, but that doesn't mean he does. Later on Bramley's arguments become harder to dissect, but does it matter? A logical progresion of arguments depends on the early ones. No matter how convincing the last few chapters of his book may be, the fact that the early chapters they are built from are clearly bunk invalidates them. It's sad, because it is clear that Bramley is no fool, and that this book was a labor of love. Then again, so was every movie Ed Wood ever made. But, alas, it is worthless scholarship, and when you present an idea so far from the mainstream, your only hope of credibility is to be able to back up what you say. These are all things you learn in a freshmen-level critical thinking class, something a "scholar" like Bramley might do well to brush up on. I wouldn't even recommend it as good fiction-- read Umberto Eco's "Foucault's Pendulum" or Robert Anton Wilson's "Illuminatus" trilogy for much better conspiracy stories. Then again, I too am preaching to the converted. Anyone who already believes this book is garbage will say "Right on, brother" and anyone who is inclined to believe it will shake their head sadly, realizing that I am merely an unwitting tool of the Custodians.
Rating: 
Summary: extremely challenging
Review: This book excites the imagination of the reader to wonder about developments throughout history that are difficult to explain. With billions and billions of stars out there, it is presumptous and egotistical for man to presume he is the only intelligent being in existence. I found the book honest and intelligent for the reader.
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Summary: Finally! A Book That Puts It All Together!
Review: This book is Bramley's life work. He states that he has no intention of writing another. And as far as I know he has not. It was a personal thesis which Bramley pursued out of sheer unsettling curiosity, a quality which the author inspires in the reader. And why not? Anyone who studies history knows it is full of inexplicables. Main line historians merely dismiss and skip over uncomfortable information and include the what is standardly acceptable. Bramley includes the uncomfortable and unsettling. Whether the reader agrees or disagrees with his conclusion it must be recognized that Bramley's book is as well documented as it is astounding. It is a given fact that secret societies do play a role in political affairs. Anyone with knowledge of the Mafia, Tammany Hall, P2 or the American Revolution knows this. Bramley expands the concept and has these secret societies at the sercice of an alien or extra-terrestrial group. Because the author is intelligent, he does not state he has all the answers behind the motivation of this group. He offers possible explanations. If you are an intelligent person with doubts about history, politics and world affairs, do read this book. If you are a standard line scholar with preconceived notions of political reality, look elsewhere. This book is too uncomfortable for you.
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Summary: The chapter titled "Funny Money" is essential reading.
Review: I agree with a previous reviewer that "though many of the concepts are complex the book is written in a very straightforward manner and is an easy read". An introduction to fantastic hidden information that affects all of us - the chapter titled "Funny Money" is essential reading.
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Summary: Idiotic
Review: This is idiotic in my mind. We're supposed believe after reading this that this crazy world of ours is "owned" by a race of space aliens who make God's jealous and spiteful behaviour in the Bible look like a hop around the classroom in a Barney the dinosaur outfit. And all of that for what?
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Summary: Esa created man, what about the dinosaurs?
Review: Bramley overlooks a big part of the history of this planet. He says Esa (a costodial god) created man on the planet earth. Did the costdians have to wipe out the dinosaur race first. Maybe they used biological warfare to wipe out the dinos. Who knows? I would like to hear some theories of his on that subject. Over all the book is very good but it lacks supporting facts on alot of subjects.
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Summary: Off the Wall
Review: Too much conspiracy and enough historical analysis. I don't see how this author can produce a monograph on this subject based entirely on conspiracy theories and secret societies and market it as a historical book. Don't waste your time on this
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Summary: an unforgettable read!
Review: as a child i was taught about the lord and that i should just believe. i have been interested in alien life since i was a child as well. where this interest stems from i am not sure. this book has brought the two subjects together in an exciting, scarry and most interesting way. the history lessons were a bit boorish at times, but i always found myself wanting to read more. it is intriging that mr. bramley set out to write a book on the histories of war, but instead his research led him to his own personal truth about the history of mankind.
Rating:
Summary: Flawed but Wonderful
Review: A lot of the negative comments made about this book are accurate. In it there are many quantum leaps made between historical facts uncovered and the conclusions he draws. Also, some of the facts themselves seem to have gleaned from less than reputable sources. Additionally, I have my own objection. First Bramley establishes how the ancient Sumerians believed that the earth was populated by spaceman-like beings (therefore it must be true, right?). He continues to expound about various "brotherhood" organizations that have existed ever since, most of which are responsible for undermining the well being of non-brotherhood individuals and keeping us in the dark about our true origins. What he never establishes is WHY the brotherhood organizations continue to act as they do. How does their ongoing secret attack upon the rest of us continue to serve the spacemen masters who, as Bramley states, created us as a slave race? This is no nit-picky question. Remaining unanswered, it kind of nullifies the value of many of Bramley's hypothoses. HOWEVER - I rate this book five stars! This book did more to unsettle my mental status quo than any book I've ever read. There is tremendous value in that. And much of what he says makes such good sense. Take the case of Jehovah. The old testament God, Jehovah, comes off as more as a bratty, violent superbeing than an all-loving, all-knowing creator of all things. Why? And why was Jehovah so hell bent on having people worship no other god than himself? He didn't say he was the only god - he just said people shouldn't worship other gods. Because Jehovah was only one of many. I completely believe Bramley on this. Many of the points he brings up are provoking and insightful - such as his account of the development of monetary systems - even if you don't agree with the broader framework he places these issues in. This book shook me up for a few weeks. How many books can do that? I loved this book!
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Summary: He's onto something
Review: William Bramley has consummated a large volume of historical and archival research concerning what he considers to be Machiavellian involvement in human affairs from outside forces. Although almost to incredulous to believe, Bramley uses an extensive bibliography to allow the reader to further explore and make their own opinion. I must say that the evidence presented far outweighs any of the testimonials available to anyone interested in this topic.
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