Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
New York: Putnam [1970, c1968], 189 pp. Orig. German: Erinnerungen an die Zukunft
Description
New Age. Nonfiction. HTML:Now in a beautiful 50th anniversary edition with a new foreword and afterword by the author, this is the groundbreaking classic that introduced the theory that ancient Earth established contact with aliens. Immediately recognized as a work of monumental importance, Chariots of the Godsendures as proof that Earth has been visited repeatedly by advanced aliens from other worlds. Here, Erich von Däniken examines ancient ruins, lost cities, spaceports, and a myriad of hard scientific facts that point to extraterrestrial intervention in human history. Most incredible of all, however, is von Däniken's theory that we are the descendants of these galactic pioneers�??and he reveals the archaeological discoveries that prove it... The dramatic discoveries and irrefutable evidence: �?� An alien astronaut preserved in a pyramid �?� Thousand-year-old spaceflight navigation charts �?� Computer astronomy from Incan and Egyptian ruins �?� A map of the land beneath the ice cap of Antarctica �?� A giant spaceport discovered in the Andes Includes remarkable photos that document mankind's first contact with aliens at the dawn… (more)
Media reviews
NBD/Biblion (via BOL.com)
Dit is de 37ste druk van een controversieel boek, dat vanaf de eerste publicatie in 1969 voor opschudding heeft gezorgd in wetenschappelijke kringen. De auteur gaat uit van de prikkelende hypothese dat de verering van goden binnen oude culturen in wezen kosmonauten betrof, afkomstig van andere
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universa. Ter onderbouwing van zijn suggestieve stellingen trekt hij alle registers open zonder deze ideeën te toetsen aan de weerbarstige wetenschappelijke werkelijkheid. Toch zet de schrijver aan tot reflectie van zijn vooronderstellingen want hoe staat het onder meer met de oude zeekaarten van Piri-Reis, de mythologie van de Soemeriërs en de Ark van het Verbond. Het is onwetenschappelijk hoe de schrijver te werk is gegaan, maar zijn onderzoek verdient ook nu nog aandacht vanuit wetenschappelijke hoek. Het geïllustreerde boek wordt afgesloten met een literatuuroverzicht en een register. Wordt gevolgd door 'De odyssee van de goden'*.
Ruud Booms
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User reviews
LibraryThing member miketroll
A pseudo-science "classic" in that it has remained an enormous best-seller since its publication in 1968. To that extent it is a book of historic interest.
The late Erich von D was a fraud. He himself knew that much of the "evidence" he presented for extra-terrestrial visitation of Earth was
In his favour it can be said that he aroused enormous worldwide interest in ancient civilisations and their advanced technological capabilities. On the other hand, his presence in this arena has made many real scientists wary of setting foot in it.
The late Erich von D was a fraud. He himself knew that much of the "evidence" he presented for extra-terrestrial visitation of Earth was
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specious. He consciously wrote for the gullible and credulous, carefully avoiding debate of rational objections to his ET fantasies. In his favour it can be said that he aroused enormous worldwide interest in ancient civilisations and their advanced technological capabilities. On the other hand, his presence in this arena has made many real scientists wary of setting foot in it.
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LibraryThing member ABVR
Ingenious nonsense about ancient societies being aided by ET visitors whom they revered as Gods and built monuments to. Captivated me when I was about twelve.
LibraryThing member Michael.Rimmer
Unmitigated tosh from cover-to-cover. Admittedly, I was taken in at age 11, but how any adult could accept this tissue of lies is beyond me. Interesting, maybe, for its sci-fi concepts, but as one of the initiators of modern pseudo-science, an awful, awful book.
You are not entitled to your opinion.
You are not entitled to your opinion.
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You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant - Harlan Ellison Show Less
LibraryThing member GlennBell
It is OK to put forth a controversial theory, but when one does they should make an effort to supply evidence to support such a theory. Much of the book is the author providing rationale why one should entertain his theory and not be closed minded. Fine, but give me a real reason to believe you. It
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is not credible to twist ancient text to fit your theory without some evidence to support it. Most of his "evidence" is speculative or rather unreasonable. It amazes me that so many copies of this book were sold and that it made a big splash in its day. The author is not a scientist and ignores such details as the chance of an alien being able to mate and generate offspring with a human is about zero. The universe is expanding and there is the speed of light problem that he tries to wish away (i.e. the distance between the Earth and most other planets is enormous). He whines about people being biased against his theory. In actuality he provides no substantial evidence to support his theory. Much of his supporting theories have been debunked. I do concur that some religious theories of origin/history are accepted without serious criticism by some people. Like Abraham Lincoln is quoted to have said, "You can fool some of the people all the time..." The discussion of putting our population on other planets is a nice thought, but impractical. Erich also believes in UFOs and psychics. While it is feasible that other life exists, it is unlikely that it visited Earth. It is worth a laugh but do not waste your time with this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member joeteo1
I read this book back in the early 80's when quite young and remember being impressed with it. After thumbing through the book again recently I confirmed my suspicions that it is of course pseudo scientific drivel. A parade of carefully chosen "evidence" carefully chosen to match a kooky theory.
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Despite this book being supposedly non fiction in nature, I cannot help but wonder how much popular science fiction owes its existence to this book. The story behind the movie and series Stargate, for example, seems to be inspired by ideas in this book. I think many writers of speculative fiction today read this popular book back in the 70s and it continues to influence. Its worth reading for this reason alone. Show Less
LibraryThing member TadAD
One of the worst things ever written.
LibraryThing member HadriantheBlind
Perhaps the only good thing that has come up from this book is science fiction inspired by it. Horrible distortion of history and misinterpretation of events. A total waste of time.
LibraryThing member gundulabaehre
I read this years ago, and even giving it one star is basically one star too many. Aside from the information being at best weirdly imaginative, the book also has a to me profoundly anti-human (but also borderline racist) feel, as though the great civilisations of the past could simply not have
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been intelligent enough to create art, music whatever (and that God must have been an alien). Sigh!! Show Less
LibraryThing member schatzi
A pseudoscience classic, Chariots of the Gods imagines an ancient world that was visited by benevolent extraterrestrials(who were erroneously called "gods"). This book is one of the inspirations for the pseudoscience series Ancient Aliens (which I will admit to watching, usually after having
It's not particularly readable, it's horribly dated (the Vietnam War is a "current event," and man had not yet walked on the moon), and well, it's pure bunk. I mean, seriously? I would have been fascinated by this book when I was about ten (and going through my aliens phase), but as a relatively well-read adult combing through these pages, I kept muttering such things as "come on" and "seriously?!?"
The first problem I had was that he takes all mentions of "gods" in ancient cultures seriously. There's apparently no such thing as myth, storytelling, embellishment, falsehood, creative license, etc, etc. Nope, it's ALL true according to von Daniken! And it just really snowballs from there.
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consumed a few shots of tequila). It's not particularly readable, it's horribly dated (the Vietnam War is a "current event," and man had not yet walked on the moon), and well, it's pure bunk. I mean, seriously? I would have been fascinated by this book when I was about ten (and going through my aliens phase), but as a relatively well-read adult combing through these pages, I kept muttering such things as "come on" and "seriously?!?"
The first problem I had was that he takes all mentions of "gods" in ancient cultures seriously. There's apparently no such thing as myth, storytelling, embellishment, falsehood, creative license, etc, etc. Nope, it's ALL true according to von Daniken! And it just really snowballs from there.
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LibraryThing member jpsnow
The wonders of the world and humans' technical progress since then derived not from man himself, but from aliens who sparked and cultivated our development? Von Daniken's theory is intriguing, as millions of readers have reacted over the past forty years. The concept itself has multiple supporting
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hypotheses once you start exploring it. Space visitors would likely have rockets and robots that our ancients would have described in our oldest texts. Aliens' technology would make them seem god-like, and their interactions with mankind would prompt human myths of gods, demigods and giants. The open-minded reader gets intrigued when they see the many patterns this author points out. The book falls apart in two areas. First, it's not well written. The evidence is interspersed with rants about what should be done next. Even when stated neutrally, the solidity of the evidence isn't consistent, which degrades the overall credibility. Second, some of the most compelling evidence was later discredited, yet even with the author's own admission, he recognizes the discredited points only outside the book, even in later revisions. It's a provocative theory to think about, and the commonality between various ancient cultures and their stories was beneficial knowledge. However, the book is hard to read and not convincing. Show Less
LibraryThing member robertjgarcia4
I remembered this being a great book when i was a kid, read it again and found it didn't hold up.
LibraryThing member FicusFan
I had heard about this book, but never read it until recently. There was a copy on a central table at a local bookstore, and I decided to give it a try.
Turns out there was nothing new to me in the book. I have seen several speculative history/science TV documentaries that cover the same material.
I
What gets lost in the alien chatter is the many anomalies that are part of the historical/archaeological record for which we have no explanations. So were the ancients much more sophisticated than we believe ? Then you run into the Atlantis crowd, and their naysayers. It seems that there is no serious research attempting to examine the past, without jamming it into the predefined time line and standard script. It may turn out to be the correct depiction of the past, but I would feel better if we at least pretended to look everywhere before we wrote off the 'crackpots'.
The book was a quick read, and only had a few awkward patches due to the translation.
Turns out there was nothing new to me in the book. I have seen several speculative history/science TV documentaries that cover the same material.
I
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have it tagged as both fiction and non-fiction. It seems obsessed with the idea of alien progenitors, which while I can't rule out 100%, seems unlikely. But I imagine many of the naysayers who revile von Daniken believe just as strongly in some god or religion, which is just as far-fetched. I think aliens and gods are the opposite sides of the same coin.What gets lost in the alien chatter is the many anomalies that are part of the historical/archaeological record for which we have no explanations. So were the ancients much more sophisticated than we believe ? Then you run into the Atlantis crowd, and their naysayers. It seems that there is no serious research attempting to examine the past, without jamming it into the predefined time line and standard script. It may turn out to be the correct depiction of the past, but I would feel better if we at least pretended to look everywhere before we wrote off the 'crackpots'.
The book was a quick read, and only had a few awkward patches due to the translation.
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LibraryThing member A.Godhelm
It's interesting to read Chariots now considering the immense influence it's gotten in the form of the very successful Ancient Aliens franchise. It was written in 1968 and it's extremely evident from the state of science fiction and actual science at that time. Däniken thinks men on Mars is a
Similarly with the arguments about men on Mars or starships needing people to scratch out landing paths in the dirt are quietly dropped in a God of the Gaps fashion as new science comes in and makes old arguments sound dumb. Especially interesting to note how closely this book lines up with Graham Hancock's alt-history, with many notable staples like the Piri Reis map and the exact same lines about how it "exactly" shows a snow free Antarctica. Hancock has borrowed liberally from Däniken's books but also scoffs and swears off the ancient astronauts as nonsense. There's some scale of plausibility where he's gone close enough to actual history to remain in good graces with people who would dismiss Däniken (even though if you listen deeper than his popular appearances you'll soon find such headscratchers as sonically levitated megaliths).
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distinct possibility. He returns again and again to "looks like X to me" type reasoning such as how any ancient depiction of a figure with rays around its head must be wearing a helmet with an antenna. Because of course at this time you think of antennas in the form of rabbit ears for radio or TV, or the sci fi round helmet with the sproingy antenna on top. Or how other symbols seem like a battery to him. It's precisely in the dated futurism the method behind the madness becomes evident - and the method hasn't changed. Däniken and his acolytes just morph the looks like X to me arguments to be more in line with what sounds plausible today. Similarly with the arguments about men on Mars or starships needing people to scratch out landing paths in the dirt are quietly dropped in a God of the Gaps fashion as new science comes in and makes old arguments sound dumb. Especially interesting to note how closely this book lines up with Graham Hancock's alt-history, with many notable staples like the Piri Reis map and the exact same lines about how it "exactly" shows a snow free Antarctica. Hancock has borrowed liberally from Däniken's books but also scoffs and swears off the ancient astronauts as nonsense. There's some scale of plausibility where he's gone close enough to actual history to remain in good graces with people who would dismiss Däniken (even though if you listen deeper than his popular appearances you'll soon find such headscratchers as sonically levitated megaliths).
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LibraryThing member quantum.alex
Thoroughly debunked by current science (and by using the term "current", I mean that the scientific method is to change the theory as evidence presents itself), but I loved it back in high school and I have to say that the idea is still fascinating. (Side note: I didn't realize that it was guilty
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of that peculiar Western culture superiority complex bias until reading a few of the reviews.) Show Less
LibraryThing member edwardsgt
I recall reading it when it first appeared and actually attending a lecture he gave in London. What seemed at the time ingenious explanations about ancient societies being visited by extra-terrestrials, whom they revered as Gods and built monuments to, proved to be another specious theory later.
LibraryThing member drj
I originally read this book back in the 1970's when it first came out. Like other sensationalist literature, the author takes facts and uses them to make his own point. Being an academician, I prefer to make such judgments for myself. However, having made these conclusions, some of them are worth
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researching for yourself. Because this is an early book on the topic of ETs and space travel, a great deal has been written, both scientific and sensationalist since then. A good place to start your own journey into the topic. Show Less
LibraryThing member Deelightful
I'll admit it. I want to believe. This book presents an interesting premise, but strains too hard to make the make it's point. I read this many years ago.
LibraryThing member Zare
First book written by Daeniken – as almost all of his works it raises many, many questions and gives one possible interpretation (authors of course, and one he is not claiming to be the correct one) of numerous mysteries surrounding ancient civilizations.Recommended.
LibraryThing member DBJones
For many people, this is where the fascination with aliens and conspiracy theories began. While Von Daniken does require you to take a leap of faith (or fantasy) with him as you begin this journey, it is always a great read. His conclusions have been rehashed numerous times and have become the
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fodder for many a sci-fi yarn, but this is still fun stuff and well worth the time spent with it. Show Less
LibraryThing member coffeeandtea
During the astronomy session at McKinney Roughs, Max referenced this book. I read it many moons ago.
LibraryThing member dragonasbreath
I read Von Daniken when he FIRST came out, before theories ad nausem made the whole concept laughable.
ORIGINALLY Von Daniken never said anything in the book about Gods or Aliens... he merely listed anomalies such as giant lines whose patterns could only be seen from the air and giant piles of rocks
The theory Von Daniken ACTUALLY postulated before the hysterics mythologized the whole thing was that in our dim and forgotten past there was once one or more races that were capable of space travel, of putting men on the Moon, while the majority of Earth was living in a stone-age (3rd world) condition.
Everything else has been twisted in to make sure our documented history is never questioned.
If you can manage to read Von Daniken without the Alien Gods hysteria clouding your judgment, it WILL give you something to think about - even if it HAS been repeated ad nauseum by now.
ORIGINALLY Von Daniken never said anything in the book about Gods or Aliens... he merely listed anomalies such as giant lines whose patterns could only be seen from the air and giant piles of rocks
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that were pyramidally shaped formed of blocks we could not move today.The theory Von Daniken ACTUALLY postulated before the hysterics mythologized the whole thing was that in our dim and forgotten past there was once one or more races that were capable of space travel, of putting men on the Moon, while the majority of Earth was living in a stone-age (3rd world) condition.
Everything else has been twisted in to make sure our documented history is never questioned.
If you can manage to read Von Daniken without the Alien Gods hysteria clouding your judgment, it WILL give you something to think about - even if it HAS been repeated ad nauseum by now.
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LibraryThing member buffalogr
This was an "OK" book. Author hypothesizes that human population on earth is the result of alien astronauts who arrived thousands of. years ago. Proof postulated includes many bold assertions that can't be supported but cause you to go: "hmmmmmm."
LibraryThing member TimNewey
FOUR Stars!.. Deduct one; a, "Little" - "Stale".. But, "Fun"! As A, sort of, "Compendium" for "Isaac Asimov" - "Stuff"!.. Put it, properly on your "Second-Tier". Especially, "Factual".. Decent, Yes!.. OK!.. "Groovy"!..
LibraryThing member LauGal
I remember this book opening my mind to possibilities.This book,no matter what your position,on possible alien life or ancient cultures will make you think.
LibraryThing member karnoefel
Samenvatting:
Geen ander boek heeft de manier waarop we naar de geschiedenis kijken zo veranderd als Waren de goden kosmonauten? van Erich von Däniken. Hij kon dan ook niet vermoeden dat zijn boek een ware cultklassieker zou worden. Waren de goden kosmonauten? is al 50 jaar onafgebroken in druk en
Geen ander boek heeft de manier waarop we naar de geschiedenis kijken zo veranderd als Waren de goden kosmonauten? van Erich von Däniken. Hij kon dan ook niet vermoeden dat zijn boek een ware cultklassieker zou worden. Waren de goden kosmonauten? is al 50 jaar onafgebroken in druk en
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wereldwijd zijn er meer dan 60 miljoen exemplaren van verkocht. Deze 40e jubileumeditie is uitgebreid met een nieuw voorwoord en een nieuw nawoord (speciaal geschreven voor de Nederlandse lezers door Erich von Däniken!) en bevat meer dan 50 (nieuwe) foto's. Show Less
Original language
German
Original publication date
1968
Physical description
189 p.; 22 cm
ISBN
0399101284 / 9780399101281