Stonehenge

by John North

Book Overview

Stonehenge has fascinated mankind for centuries, enveloping generation after generation in its haunting mystery. But while much has been learned about this ancient monument, the fundamental questions... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684845121
• ISBN13: 9780684845128
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 609 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Stonehenge Decoded

There have been many legends about this strange place located in a remote area; Henry James' opinion was that it stands lonely as it does on the great plain. It was so old (now 3540 years) that its true history was forgotten by the classic times. Not until the Dark Ages did the old stones begin to stir man's fancies. It is certainly unique. John B. White says that its history is real and imaginary. In Gerald Hawkins' study, Stonehenge Decoded, his analysis was that the circles of stones are not modified circles. They are true ellipses. And ellipse is an advanced mathematical figure. Prehistoric Brits had a good working knowledge of elementary geometry. Some thought that this circle of pretty large stones was a Druid temple to worship the sunrise and sunset. It was actually a sophisticated astronomical observatory, a Neolithic computer to predict eclipses. I wonder if a certain expert on slaves in England would agree that they in actuality hauled those huge rocks out there as they did when the Pyramids were built. Brits had slaves before we did. It seems that white slaves go back a long way to Iran. Perhaps aliens came in UFOs and arranged these stones for future reference. Who knows? I am certain that he has visited them as he did the Egyptian pyramids. Maybe he got to the Mayan ones as well, as he is a great traveler and scholar of the Old School.

A Labyrinth of Data

Although John North is to be congratulated on his diligence and tenacity in researching and producing this book, I have to say that it is heavy going and his infinitely detailed measurements and conclusions are so mutually entangled that it's very hard to form a clear picture of his conclusions and hence determine whether his science is really as soundly based as he claims. Part of his trouble is the very wide scope of the book. There is material for several substantial books crowded into this one and I feel sometimes the wood gets lost for the trees. Moreover the many drawings of alignments scattered through the pages are frequently lacking in clear notation. This is a pity, because I would like to believe most of the conclusions that I understand. His argument for rising star alignments on many monuments appears to stretch credibility; what about the obscuration of stars by atmospheric density close to the horizon? And for the Uffington White Horse, which I've visited many times and know well, he claims an alignment along a modern road, citing that it may well have followed an earlier track? Proof? But it is a serious attempt to understand the minds of early architects and their society's relationship to the heavens, and as such is a very welcome addition to the growing archaeo-astronomy corpus.

excellent book, the author shows stoneage man watched

the skys more closely than other writers give them credit for. What sets this book apart from other stonehenge interpretations is this author takes the time, lots of time to support everything with astronomical alignments,time-dating, and mathematics.Some other authors books claim only solar summer and winter solstice alignments for stonehenge whereas Mr. North shows there is far more to stonehenge than that.This book is not a light fast read, so plan on spending alot of extra time to read it from cover to cover. This book covers great details missed or ignored by others.If you are looking for just one book to read on this subject this is the book! 5 stars

Finally, The Truth

Mr. North exceeds my expectations in his book on the inhabitants of this magnificent area. Although it was at times tedious and heavy in the astronomical sense, I am an amateur astronomy buff so his interpretations were not totally lost to me. The most amazing breakthrough noted by Mr. North is our arrogance as a literal society to assume their intelligence as minimal due to the lack of a written legacy by these brilliant and sensitive people. Additionally, he subtley proposes that we should not judge the Stonehenge people as one because of a few isolated finds of deviant tribal rituals. The cosmological affect on the beliefs and practices of this era is well documented in Mr. North's book. Aristotle would have understood their aptitude given the tools and skills of the time. Nature is the most perfect teacher and the most accurate. Bravo Mr. North

A definitive look at Stonehenge

This is not the easiest book to read. John North is so painstakingly detailed that I occasionally had to set the book aside and let my mind rest a while. Once I finally was able to get all the way through, however, I was very glad I had made the effort. North has given us a definitive look at Stonehenge.North starts with a fairly simple premise: In order to truly understand Stonehenge one should first study the many other comparable structures built in Britan and Europe during prehistoric times. North slowly works his way through these structures before finally arriving at the ultimate destination: Stonehenge.The conclusions he finally reaches about Stonehenge are at once startling and fascinating. For instance, he shows that observations were not done from within the Stonehenge circle, but from a point many meters outside the circle.I could go on, but suffice it to say that if you have ever been curious about Stonehenge, North's book is a must read.