Hall has termed 'The Mysteries' that are veiled within the symbolism and creeds and esoterica of secret societies. Nevertheless, as a fan of good books like Foucault's Pendulum - that contain their own unique compendium of secret societies - I'm inevitably fascinated by and attracted toward what Manly P.

Too conspiratorial for my taste, like The Da Vinci Code. The core conception of The Secret Teachings of All Ages - that an 'Elect' few denizens of ancient secret societies have existed from time immemorial, and are still operating today, covertly shaping and re-shaping and preserving in the process, through the eons, the world's major movements (and advances) in mathematics, the sciences, philosophies, and religions - I find dubious at best. Someday I'd like to itemize the founders and features of each philosophy with maybe an abstract of my own, for later reference, just for fun.I can't say I believe much of what I'm reading in this book, however, at least regarding the history and veracity of the ancient gnostic's vast (and complexly convoluted) underworld network of behind-the-scenes movers and shakers in world politics, religion, and thought.

The book, I'm discovering, is really more of a reference work than a book to pick up and read from start to finish, though finish it I happily will.The lengthy introduction provides abstracts of just about every philosophic movement in history, and serves as an excellent refresher course for students of philosophy. More than one hundred line drawings and a sixteen-page color insert reproduce some of the finest illustrations of the original book, while reset and reformatted text makes this edition of The Secret Teachings of All Ages newly accessible to readers everywhere.I'm still slowly reading through The Secret Teachings of All Ages, about halfway through this gargantuan compendium of all things arcane in the disciplines of religious mythology and mystical religions, with their always intriguing ancient rites, symbols, and of course, 'secret teachings'. Literally hundreds of entries shine a rare light on some of the most fascinating and closely held aspects of myth, religion, and philosophy from throughout the centuries. For the first time, Hall's celebrated classic is now published in an affordable trade paperback volume. While many thousands of copies have sold since its initial publication in 1928, The Secret Teachings of All Ages has previously been available only in oversized, expensive editions. Students of hidden wisdom, ancient symbols, and arcane practices treasure Hall's magnum opus above all other works. Hall's legendary The Secret Teachings of All Ages is a codex to the ancient occult and esoteric traditions of the world. Like no other book of the twentieth century, Manly P.

A classic since 1928, this masterly encyclopedia of ancient mythology, ritual, symbolism, and the arcane mysteries of the ages is available for the first time in a compact 'reader's edition.'

The secret of all ages