The Masonic Myth by Jay Kinney is an accessible and fascinating history of the Freemasons that sheds new light on this secret fraternity. A nonfiction look at the mysterious and wrongly maligned ancient society that plays a major role in The Lost Symbol, the new novel by Dan Brown ( The Da Vinci Code ), Kinney’s The Masonic Myth debunks the myths as it reveals the truth about the Freemasons, their history, and their secret symbols and rituals—a truth that is far more fascinating than all the conspiracy theories combined. This is hardly the first book about the history and inner workings of Freemasonry. It is, however, one of a small number of books written (mostly without an agenda) by a practicing Mason. It’s no big secret that Freemasonry has a reputation as a powerful secret society and that various conspiracy theorists have linked Masonry to everything from the Knights Templar to Jack the Ripper. (Dan Brown uses Masonry in his new novel, The Lost Symbol.) Kinney explores the many rumors and theories surrounding Masonry, separating myth from history, fact from fiction. Think of his book as a sort of dual history, of Masonry itself and of the concurrent condemnation and fear of Masons; as such, it should appeal to readers searching for an evenhanded look at the organization. There are no jaw-dropping revelations in here—for example, Kinney doesn’t accuse the Masons of being behind the Ripper murders, as Stephen Knight did in Jack the Ripper: The Final Solution (1976) and The Brotherhood (1984)—but that doesn’t keep the book from being fascinating reading. --David Pitt “... a book which has the excitement of a thriller with the benefit of being factual. This is real-life (as opposed to “reality”) Freemasonry. And it’s a great story!” - Jim Tresner 33° Grand Cross, Book Review Editor, The Scottish Rite Journal “For the history buff or even the student or teacher looking for a one-volume source, this book is probably all they’ll ever need to understand the world of the Freemasons. Recommended.” - Library Journal XPress “This should be the first book anyone reads about Freemasonry. Even those who know a lot about it will benefit from the broad and generous perspective that the founder of “Gnosis Magazine” brings to it.” - Joscelyn Godwin, Colgate University. Author of The Theosophical Enlightenment and The Golden Thread Kinney’s book, “Masonic Myth,” delves into the mysterious history of the Freemasons and carefully dispels rumors and misconceptions about the brotherhood. - beliefnet “The Masonic Myth finally sets the record straight about the Freemasons, revealing that the truth is far more compelling than the stories.” - bookgasm “Kinney does a great job of sharing a whole lot of never-before-seen inside stuff in an easily understood way.” - January Magazine “...highly-readable and down-to-earth. Backed up by much scholarly research, Kinney methodically examines, and then busts common myths about Masons.” - Boing Boing The Truth Revealed Freemasons have been connected to the all-seeing eye on the dollar bill, the French Revolution, the Knights Templar, and the pyramids of Egypt. They have been rumored to be everything from a cabal of elite power brokers ruling the world to a covert network of occultists and pagans intent on creating a new world order, to a millennia-old brotherhood perpetuating ancient wisdom through esoteric teachings. Their secret symbols, rituals, and organization have remained shrouded for centuries and spawned theory after theory. The Masonic Myth sets the record straight about the Freemasons and reveals a truth that is far more compelling than the myths. Jay Kinney is coauthor of Hidden Wisdom: A Guide to the Western Inner Traditions . For fifteen years, he was publisher and editor-in-chief of Gnosis , the premier journal covering esoteric traditions and spiritual paths. In addition, Kinney is a member of Mill Valley Lodge #356 and Mission Lodge #169, F&AM, in California; a member of the York Rite; and a 32° KCCH in the Scottish Rite. He has twice been a speaker at the California Masonic Symposium, and is a recipient of the Albert G. Mackey Award for Excellence in Masonic Research. He has extensive contacts within Freemasonry and, as librarian and director of research for the San Francisco Scottish Rite, has access to many resources and Masonic records that have eluded most popular writers on this topic.