The Secret History of the World
By Jonathan Black

Jonathan Black's new book, The Secret History of the World, reveals extraordinary and thought-provoking insights into the esoteric teachings of secret societies down the ages and offers a radical new (or perhaps very ancient) perspective on human history. Jonathan will join us online on our Author-of-the-month message board during November for open discussion and debate about the many controversial issues he raises in the book.

The Secret History of the World, by Jonathan Black, is published by Quercus Books, London, 2007, and is available from all good bookshops and from Amazon.co.uk.

The Secret History of the World looks at history upside down, inside out and the other way around. Rather that trying to piece together bits of hard evidence - archaeological discoveries and so on - in order to find new patterns, it is trying hard to listen to secret belief about what really happened in history - traditions preserved in different esoteric societies around the world- and to weave them together into one narrative.

Of course it would be impossible to prove that this alternative account of history is true in all its details in one relatively short volume. But what I have tried to do is show that secret societies from around the globe have preserved a consistent, coherent, cogent account of world history - and of life. This account also explains some aspects of life and history that scientific materialism cannot explain.

A senior publisher I know - a rather down to earth and worldly fellow, I don't think he'd mind me saying - started to read it, saying he was not sure if he could take it seriously - was not even sure if he was meant to take it seriously. But by the end he had begun to see life from a slightly different angle, to notice connections. A senior publicist of a rather more spiritual inclination, who began to read it at the same time, started to experience some mild supernatural phenomena. The last I heard they were planning a trip together to visit the British Museum to stand in front of the Lohan - a statue alluded to in my book which seems to have mysterious properties.

I can't claim that my book offers initiation. As I explain, I am not an initiate myself. But feedback like the above reminds me how much help I have had writing this book and that much of the imagery that flows through the narrative was devised by minds far more intelligent than mine to work at a below the conscious level.

Graham Hancock's Supernatural has also been a key text for me. An enthralling account of one man's exploration of another dimension, it shows great physical courage, putting health and sanity at risk, and also takes huge intellectual risks. The commentary tying in the latest scientific research on the double helix and the information encoded in it is - I can't think of another phrase - mind-blowing. I'm still trying to work out the ramifications.

When people ask me if I believe that The Secret History is true, I say It's all true - in another dimension. This other dimension weaves in and out of our everyday, commonsensical, material dimension, helps form it and nudges it in this direction or that. According to esoteric doctrine this other dimension is the more real.

I think that most of today's secret societies would not recommend using drugs to enter this dimension, as Graham Hancock used drugs on his journey of exploration in Supernatural. Drugs are undoubtedly a part of the esoteric tradition, from the Mystery schools attached to the temples of the ancient world to the notorious Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor, which had such a big influence on the early Theosophists. But different methods used to reach the same place are a part of my story.

The Dawkins tendency has had it pretty much its own way recently. I believe that nothing will turn this tide of materialism except real, lived spiritual experience. When you've had that, you don't believe, you know - and that, as I show in my book, is what the esoteric teaching of the secret societies has always offered.

The Secret History of the World, by Jonathan Black, is published by Quercus Books, London, 2007, and is available from all good bookshops and from Amazon.co.uk.

Jonathan's blog is online here: www.insideoutthinking.co.uk