Rating: 
Summary: Controversial and Thoroughly Convincing
Review: I heard about Hancock while watching a documentary on the Discovery Channel. His work, while controversial, is backed up with a mountain of research and is thoroughly convincing. I for one believe that Hancock has made his case beyond a reasonable doubt. Please don't confuse what he has done with the highly specious theories of, say, a von Daniken or Velikovsky. Hancock's work stands on its own with any Professor at any top University.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm so glad I read this book, but...
Review: but without ruining the ending (which some here have done) don't expect the excitement of anyone's head exploding and Nazi's to burst into flames. Heck don't expect the excitement of watching grass grow.The subject matter is fascinating. And some of the research is remarkable. The researcher finds "clues" in a cathedral, and at a grave site, and pieces together info from biblical text. Great stuff!!!! But holy cow, 600 pages!?!?! ( I thought it was more, it felt like more). Read this if you are REALLY interested in archaeology and the Bible and the Ark. But if you are looking for a good adventure, not here my friends. Again I felt smarter for reading this (maybe that was because it is a 600 pg book, I'd neverread that much before) and that made this a satisfying purchase, but I would never tell anyone they have got to read this.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Reading
Review: Athough controversial, Graham Hancock has done his research well. If he cannot substantiate a claim he says so, if he can he does it with background research. Although I have my doubts that the Ark of the Covenant is in Axom, the history he has in this book is outstanding.
Rating: 
Summary: Approach with caution!
Review: Better yet, don't buy this book or any of Hancock's pseudo-research books. He has no answers, only pure conjecture! Admittedly, some of the conjecture is mildly interesting, but he knows the resting place of the Ark no more than I do. He could have told you the whole story, or what he knows of it in about 100 pages, so you wouldn't feel so jerked around after almost 500!
Rating:
Summary: Graham Hancock Rocks!
Review: One of my favorite books all-time books, from one of my favorite authors. In this true-life Indiana Jones adventure, Graham Hancock travels the world in search of the Lost Ark of the Covenant. Years of research went into this book, and it shows. Hancock combines the results of his fascinating research with tales of his travels to uncover the mystery of the Ark's final resting place. Also included are numerous photographs and sketches discovered during his research and travels. It really is an exciting, sometimes nail-biting, true-life adventure. Even if you have no interest in religion or archaeology, Hancock's writing will entertain and intrigue you. A tough book to put down.
Rating: 
Summary: An Entertaining Book
Review: Like all speculative literature, Graham Hancock's methodology in "proving" the Ark of the convenant is in Ethiopia relies on a chain of assertions. If you half-believe the first assertion, then a second assertion can be made, and if you half-believe it, then you now must fully believe the first assumption. Continue down this logical road, and you will soon find that the Knights Templar are involved in just about everything -- which is what we suspected all along, right? But even though there is not a lot of merit in this sort of reasoning, Graham Hancock at least writes an interesting and entertaining book, which is far better than being logically consistent. His journey begins in Ethiopia, where he hears that there is a legend about the Ark of the Covenant being brought there -- a legend which does not date earlier than the 13th centruy text which asserts this. Hancock could have decided that the 13th century tale was merely an invention of storytellers trying to make an upstart dynasty look respectable (consider, for instance, the genealogies that were used by Irish bards to prove that Brian Boru was actually a true claimant to the throne of Ireland), but instead, Hancock works from the position that the 13th century tale is true. From this humble beginning, Hancock then build his edifice of progressively unlikely assertions. He ends up with the Ark being taken to Egypt, then to Ethiopia, discovered by the Knights Templar, lost by the Knights Templar, and travelling around quite a bit within Ethiopia before resting at Axum. Is it there? The guardian whom Hancock met claims it is, but won't let anyone see it. Hancock also speculates that the Ark was built by Moses, who had received instruction while growing up from a secret society of Egyptian priests from a cult whose origins lie in the ruins of an Indian Ocean Atlantis founded by the Egyptian god Thoth -- a society which secretly has been kept alive by organizations like the Templars and Freemasons. He also asserts that the Holy Grail (another medieval literary invention) and the Ark are one and the same -- and that the Grail legends and the architecture at Chartres are actually a secret code pointing to the Ark, and its location in Ethiopia. This is a very fun book, with a lot of twists and turns, and always entertaining. It is not at all hampered by its conclusions, which are all undoubtedly nonsense. Don't take it too seriously, but enjoy it for what it is.
Rating:
Summary: Largely Fascinating
Review: Hancock details the lengends and searchs for the Ark through the centuries. Overall the book is interesting, though in the end the actual ark isn't found. Hancocks excellent scholarship takes a nosedive in Part IV as he uses wild speculation to explain the Ark's powers. He speculates (wildly) that some advanced, lost technology was used for the ark. Granted, much of what the ancient world knew, is lost to us (he gets into this in his often speculative Fingerprint of the Gods). Neverthless, he has no idea what this technology was, who made it, etc, etc., other than using myths and legends to claim it must have been this. The easier solution would be to believe the Ark did have supernatual powers.
Rating:
Summary: Good Read but like the Rings movie does not end.
Review: This book covers along time period in which the author travels to many exotic and interesting places (ok I am a little jealous). While I am not convinced that the Ethiopians have the original AOC I do not dismiss that they could and Mr.. Hancock puts some convincing evidence to support that. I enjoy his style of writing as a narrative about his adventures rather than just a fact based book.
Rating:
Summary: Graham Hancock books
Review: This was a great book to read for anyone who is interested in Bible archeology. Another good book to read after this on is "fingerprints of the gods" it explores more of the lost society theory.
Rating:
Summary: THEY DON'T HAVE THE ARK!!
Review: AN EXCELLENT READ. INSPIRED ME TO MAKE THE TREK TO ETHIOPIA MYSELF TO SEE THE WONDERS DESCRIBED. HANCOCK MISSES A CRUCIAL, BUT OBVIOUS POINT....THE ETHIOPIANS DO NOT HAVE THE ARK ITSELF, BUT ACTUALLY POSSES THE TABLETS (REAL OR A COPY THEREOF) THAT WERE IN THE ARK! THERE ARE SO MANY CLUES TO THIS, THAT I WONDER HOW GRAHAM SEEMS TO MISS DRAWING THIS EASY CONCLUSION. THE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH/HISTORY/SCHOLARSHIP IN THE BOOK IS IMPRESSIVE. HE DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB TRACING THE JOURNEY OF THE ARK/TABLETS TO ETHIOPIA. MORE THAN EVEN THE STORY OF THE ARK/TABLETS IS THE FACINATING HISTORY OF ETHIOPIA, ITS JEWISH HERITAGE AND EARLY 4th CENTURY A.D. CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY.
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