Chariots of the Gods

Written by Erich von Däniken

Narrated by William Dufris

Erich von Däniken's Chariots of the Gods is a work of monumental importance—the first book to introduce the shocking theory that ancient Earth was visited by aliens. This world-famous bestseller has withstood the test of time, inspiring countless books and films, including the author's own popular sequel, The Eye of the Sphinx. But here is where it all began—von Däniken's startling theories of our earliest encounters with alien worlds, based upon his lifelong studies of ancient ruins, lost cities, potential 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 ourselves are the descendents of these galactic pioneers—and the archaeological discoveries that prove it:



—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 preserved in the Andes

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Mar 31, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452671536

Erich von Däniken

Erich von Däniken is the author of the worldwide bestseller Chariots of the Gods and its follow-up, The Eyes of the Sphinx, in addition to over two dozen other books.

Reviews for Chariots of the Gods

[PauloZ · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I liked it and many facts just cannot be denied in this book

[Yonghui Goh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book. Fancy yourself to read this masterpiece. I recommend it %100.

[Caroline Brown Pitts · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this in 1972, it's as if I'm reading it for the first time, again. I womdered why stuff I've heard lately was already known to me. This is why, start here, it's the real truth about human kind. Catch up quick, it's very important. ?

[Isaiah B Brunt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Alot of info and cross referencing going on, a real joy to read and extremely entertaining.
Erich is a great researcher!

[Ang Decamps · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Everyone on this planet should read this book and open their eyes!!!

[Ashfiqur Rahman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Isn't there an ebook of this? It would be great to read it.

[Tammy Alderman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I feel that anyone who dismisses this book as boring, fantastical...and plain crazy are the people I consider "sheeple".
It's time to wake up! It's time to remember our past and where and who we came from, bc science fiction is now science fact! And if those sheeple only knew the REAL truth about our past ....they would be terrified!
It's not just as simple as "God, jesus and the universe!!! LMFAO! Wake up people.

[Raymond Doyle · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Again the theories in this are hard to back up with any real proof. Great if you just want to pass the time.

[Andy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An amazing read and still very relevant even 48 years after Von Daniken's writing. I highly recommend reading.

[Pedro Ibarra · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There are many points that don't have the attention needed.

[namstasis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Science has been pioneered by those willing to think outside the box. if you wish to shackle your mind so be it, but don't down rate because you see this as nothing more than fanciful "pseudoscience". This is a book of theories I read nothing that said this was truth beyond the shadow of doubt. Truth is usually stranger than fiction. just food for thought friends, Namaste.

[deelightful-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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.

[Darwin Deviation · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Just finished this...."classic"? But for real, its an OK piece of science-FICTION speculative philosophy. I can see how it was impactful in the late 60s as it proposes some out there stuff but also challenges religion. Today its not as impactful.

One thing that bothers me, and this is evident in most alien literature, is that most male "researchers" who write about aliens also speculate that they have sex with humans in one way or the other... the good ol interbreeding concept being used by sexist pervs to talk about their fetishes via aliens

If ancient aliens who shared knowledge with us procreated with early savage humans, I see that the same as a teacher molesting their students, and anyone obssessing over this idea as an infantile pervert!

[huba.library · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wild concept, a lot to take in and ponder. It's interesting, compelling, and will be followed by much more in the future. I look forward to what comes next.

[Carolyn Duncan Parker · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I haven't read the book yet & will revise my review when I do. I just find it ridiculous the amount of people on here whose reviews try to discredit what the book says by giving incorrect information themselves. If you are going to try to look like an intelligent intellectual, at least fact check so that you don't do the very thing you are accusing the writer of being guilty of.

[Warrior Peace · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book has a racial undertone that's laughable. The Consistent need to call our ancestor "primitive"and "savages" seemed disrespectful and inaccurate considering how brilliantly sophisticated and innovative our ancestors have proven to be throughout history. This is such a silly book seriously , however as a science fiction book it would be actually a 10/10 book

[davepdavis · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

One word...YAWN.

[Beryl Ogola · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The first few minutes are dedicated to adressing his critics and that honestly is a turn off.

[maxernst11 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Pure jeugdnostalgie. Gelezen als 13-jarige, en hoewel ik wel vermoedde dat er iets loos was met von D?nikens beweringen, was ik er toch helemaal weg van. Ik ben dus geneigd er het etiket "vermakelijk" op te kleven, ware het niet dat onstellend veel mensen dit soort verhalen maar blijven geloven.

[myfathersdragon · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I thought it was creatively inventive, but not particularly believable. It is 3 stars if you view it as that.

[theeclecticbookworm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I wanted to see what was here. In the forward to this newer edition, the author admits to errors and omissions. And his detractors are legion. Instead of answering the questions, though, they simply chalk up his assertions to mental illness and/or junk science.

I don't know what the answers are. There are some curious things out there, though. I'd like better answers than, "We don't know what it is, but it isn't aliens." Okay, it isn't aliens. Then . . . what is it?

[facuonti17 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is the combination of what one wants to express with the invitation to let go of the shackles of certain beliefs. (Translated from Spanish)

[luznoccelli1994 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

We must accept that we are not alone in this Universe. That we are not the first nor will we be the last. (Translated from Spanish)

[SrAMARILLO · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The television series "Ancient Aliens" was produced based on this book; and it is to be appreciated as it is one of the most interesting and long-lasting productions in today's landscape. Going back to the book, it would be worth knowing how many of the theories and investigations are findings of Däniken himself or plagiarisms, as would later be demonstrated in some of his books. Is it a recommended read? Only if you are a passionate reader of this type of phenomenon. For me, it is an interesting read at times, but within a framework that is less appealing and enjoyable compared to the documentaries of the aforementioned television series. On this occasion, the audiovisual production surpasses the literary one. (Translated from Spanish)

[Demmuri · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book on the theory of ancient aliens. (Translated from Spanish)

[karnoefel · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[jpsnow · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[laugal-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[timnewey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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"!..

[gundulabaehre · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

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 been intelligent enough to create art, music whatever (and that God must have been an alien). Sigh!!