Rating: 
Summary: the gold of exodus
Review: A most gripping true story of two men who set out to find the
True Mt. Sinai.
Well written,you cannot put the book down once you start reading it.Makes you want to read the story of Exodus in the bible again.
The book has everything in it,and many facts that are not known to most people.
It relives the story of Exodus in the bible and discovers the True mount sinai,which proves the bible right.
Read it and be Inthralled.
Rating: 
Summary: Fast-Paced but Factually Deficient
Review: Action-packed and fast-paced, Howard Blum not only keeps you on the edge of your seat, but he makes this book a hard one to put down. I read it in two sittings, and I do not regret the hours of sleep I sacrificed on its behalf.However, this story is rather sensationalistic, and the scope of its narrative is perhaps a bit too grandiose for the central theme of the book - which is that Mt. Sinai exists, has been found, and measures up to the Biblical description. Too, considering that everyone from the CIA to the Mossad to the Chinese was darkly and mysteriously involved, some of the conclusions and resolutions are just a bit too pat. In essence, the Gold of Exodus traces the daring, and sometimes foolhardy, adventures of a colorful millionaire and his friend, burly ex-SWAT Bob Cornuke, as they embark on a secret quest to discover the gold that tradition holds the Children of Israel left at Mt. Sinai in penance for their sins. They eventually make it to the site as their unabashed treasure hunt for gold gradually becomes a spiritual quest for God. As far as geographic/Biblical lore is concerned, this is indeed a fascinating read. The sense of adventure also makes the time spent reading it worthwhile. However, although not impossible, the narrative is rather flimsy (due to the author's compression of certain facts to heighten readability), and an objective reading in search of hard, cold facts will leave you rather disappointed by its end. In my case, it made for a good one-time read, but it's not one I'll be picking up to re-read in the near future. - Benamin Gene Gardner
Rating:
Summary: Fast-Paced but Factually Deficient
Review: Action-packed and fast-paced, Howard Blum not only keeps you on the edge of your seat, but he makes this book a hard one to put down. I read it in two sittings, and I do not regret the hours of sleep I sacrificed on its behalf. However, this story is rather sensationalistic, and the scope of its narrative is perhaps a bit too grandiose for the central theme of the book - which is that Mt. Sinai exists, has been found, and measures up to the Biblical description. Too, considering that everyone from the CIA to the Mossad to the Chinese was darkly and mysteriously involved, some of the conclusions and resolutions are just a bit too pat. In essence, the Gold of Exodus traces the daring, and sometimes foolhardy, adventures of a colorful millionaire and his friend, burly ex-SWAT Bob Cornuke, as they embark on a secret quest to discover the gold that tradition holds the Children of Israel left at Mt. Sinai in penance for their sins. They eventually make it to the site as their unabashed treasure hunt for gold gradually becomes a spiritual quest for God. As far as geographic/Biblical lore is concerned, this is indeed a fascinating read. The sense of adventure also makes the time spent reading it worthwhile. However, although not impossible, the narrative is rather flimsy (due to the author's compression of certain facts to heighten readability), and an objective reading in search of hard, cold facts will leave you rather disappointed by its end. In my case, it made for a good one-time read, but it's not one I'll be picking up to re-read in the near future. - Benamin Gene Gardner
Rating:
Summary: Nonfiction page-turner that reads like a novel!
Review: I found it nearly impossible to put this book down. I have thrice visited the traditional Mt. Sinai and have myself concluded that, although a beautiful sight, the traditional mountain cannot possibly be the mountain Moses received the commandments. It is not even the highest peak in the immediate area. Thus, it is not so far-fetched for me to succomb to this reputed discovery. Still, I asked friends and associates in the Middle East their thoughts. Many Christians disagree with me, but many Moslems agree that this book could be correct, for they grew up with stories that indicated Moses (Musa) had lived for a time in the area highlighted by the book. I do wish the author had not consolidated certain facts. I also do still have some skepticism in certain parts, for some conspiratorial type data is not adequately sourced. Overall, this is one of the better books to be published in recent decades about a topic that seems more and more timely. Perhaps in some small way this book can contribute to the advancement of humanity? Probably too much to hope for...Let's watch the Simpsons on DVD!
Rating: 
Summary: Unlikely tale with no research content
Review: I have the hardest time getting rid of books, and every purge of the family library ends up being a long series of painful decisions. Yet I had no trouble giving away this book after the first reading. I would like to give at least some praise before discussing the weaknesses of this book - but I have the hardest time finding any. The idea is entertaining and some of the travel scenes are exotic and unusual. That said, the book as a whole is poor in many respects. The writing is, at most, unremarkable. The chapters of the book are poorly architected, and it is sometimes difficult to understand why one follows the other. The thesis in the story is both unlikely and unbelievable, and there is not an iota of proof to any of the many rather incredible assumptions. Finally, some of the "facts" in the story (i.e. what the authors say they actually did and saw) are somewhat difficult to believe. I thought that this was about the narrative of a new set of biblical archeology finds along with some controversial analysis. What the book really is, is a poorly written travelogue along with the expose of a thesis whose theme is about as well proven as the idea that aliens built the pyramids. I normally see some redeeming value, or a potential audience, for most of the books I read. In this case, I would say: by any means stay away, even shipping costs only would be too high a price for this book.
Rating:
Summary: A very Odd account
Review: I'm not sure what to say here. THis is a very odd book from someone who has written two other great books. Blum's account of the Jewish Brigade in WWI and hisa account of the Yom Kippur War(Eve of Destruction) are both marvelous and TRUE accounts of the events. Having done extensive research on te Yom Kippur war I can vouch for 'Eve of Destruction's' authenticity. Yet this book seems oddly out there. First of all the two men this book chronicles Larry Williams and Robert Cornuke have both written books on the subject detailing their adventure. Now the problem is that the books are in conflict. WIliams book details two trips while Cornukes book is ambivlent on whether he has found Mt. Sinai and he does not mention Israeli Mossad. So this deminishes the books credibility. The Saudi archeological service cannot be trusted. Many people claim that the book must be wrong because the Kingdom of Saudi has destributed some pictures of the painting described in this book and these painting look more european then biblical. Well who trusts the Saudi internal government, which is a dictatorship and has no reason to release evidence about this mountain, especially if such evidence will bring millions of non-Mulsims to the kingdom for pilgrimage. Saudi already has one holy cty, it doesnt want another. THis book is not racism as some claim nor is it 'offensive' it is merely an exploration of the Biblical site of Mt. Sinai. THose that accuse this book of being offfensive because these guys had to sneak into Saudi should instead accuse the Saudis of offense for not allowing international research teams to search their country for non-muslim archeology. The Kingdom of Saudi does have a lax intelligence service if your an ex-SWAT member and this is clear from the many terrorist attacks on U.S installations in the kingdom so those that say this cant be true because oft he vaunted Saudi intelligence service are also wrong. Saudi, as the book shows, is a fuedal state that lives in the modrn world. Those that say the discovery, if true, has ramifactions for the worlds religions are wrong. It has no ramification for any of the religions. Mt Sinai is where god gave the commandments and the laws to Moses. An interesting book
Rating: 
Summary: Provocative
Review: In this book, author Howard Blum chronicles the adventures of Larry Williams and Bob Cornuke, treasure hunters. When Larry receives a letter, which suggests that Mount Sinai is not actually in the Sinai Peninsula but in Saudi Arabia, he determines to go retrieve the treasure left there by the Israelites-the gold of Exodus. However, unknown to Larry and Bob, that same Arabian mountain is a main part of the Saudi "Operation Falcon," the Saudi building of a first-strike capable nuclear missile program. This book is written like an adventure novel. Following a narrative, that includes numerous flashbacks, asides and sidebars, the story weaves together the treasure hunt of Larry and Bob with the espionage activities of the Mossad and Saudis. Overall, I am not at all certain what one can believe about this story; it includes in-depth reporting of meetings of the Saudi royal family, plus the secret working of the Mossad. That said, though, I did find this an interesting book, with a provocative subject. [If you are interested in similar archaeo-investigative stories, then I highly recommend Nicholas Clapp's The Road to Ubar and Sheba.]
Rating:
Summary: FASCINATING
Review: Part quest, part international intrique, part biblical archeology, this fast paced, well written true story reads like an adventure novel. Complete with biblical revelation and spy vs. spy most readers will find it hard to believe that the adventures of Larry Williams and Bob Cornuke are real. It was a fascinating book to read and was very enjoyable but if I was a Saudi I would be a little worried about the security of my county when two Americans can enter and wonder around. Howard Blum, the author, did a fine job in pulling together a wide range of information to bring about a tale that is both informative and entertaining. If the ending is somewhat disappointing....well that's life isn't it? It is amazing that the evidence discovered by Williams and Cornuke has laid around for centuries and no one has put it together to discover the true Mount Sinai. A really enjoyable read!
Rating:
Summary: An Indiana Jones Type of Adventure
Review: The Gold of Exodus is about the archeological adventures of two men, Larry Williams and Bob Cornuke who believe that Mount Sinai is not in the Sinai Peninsula as many scholars have thought, but in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The real Mount Sinai is a mountain known as Jabal al Lawz and is now a top secret Saudi military base. The two men make some interesting discoveries and whether you believe their theories or not, The Gold of Exodux was a book I couldn't put down. There are many things in this world that are not what we think they are and it is best to keep an open mind. I won't give away any more details as I truly hate it when reviewers tell so much about the books that there is no reason to read them.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining "Indiana Jones" style adventure...
Review: The story this book tells is incredible. What if they have really found the true Mt. Sinai? This is almost too incredible to believe. The text does dwell on a few conspiratorial theories that the Israelis and Arabic secret service is out to get the heroes of the book though. This detracts from the story of discovering the true mountain of God. Also the pictures in the book are interesting but it appears if they were taken at noon day. The ascent and following descent of the mountain took place during the night and early dawn. Maybe it gets light really quick in Saudi Arabia. Overall the book was easy to read and enjoyable and would recommend it to others. I just wish the author had documented the sources he used to a greater extent.
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