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Erich von Däniken

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Chariots of the Gods Paperback – Illustrated, January 1, 1999

by Erich von Däniken (Author), Michael Heron (Translator)

4.6 10,984 ratings

Book 1 of 2: Chariots of the Gods

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THE SEVEN MILLION COPY BESTSELLER

AS SEEN ON ANCIENT ALIENS • 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 Gods endures as proof that Earth has been visited repeatedly by advanced aliens from other worlds. Here, Erich von Däniken examines ancient ruins, lost cities, spaceports, ufos, 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 archeological 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 of civilization.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Erich von Däniken is arguably the most widely read and most-copied nonfiction author in the world. He published his first (and best-known) book, Chariots of the Gods, in 1968. The worldwide best-seller and was followed by 32 more books, including The Eyes of the Sphinx, Twilight of the Gods, History Is Wrong, Evidence of the Gods, and Odyssey of the Gods. His works have been translated into 28 languages and have sold more than 63 million copies. Several have also been made into films. Von Däniken's ideas have been the inspiration for a wide range of TV series, including the History Channel's hit Ancient Aliens. He lives in Switzerland but is an ever-present figure on the international lecture circuit.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1 - Are There Intelligent Beings in the Cosmos?

Chapter 2 - When Our Spaceship Landed on Earth ...

Chapter 3 - The Improbable World of the Unexplained

Chapter 4 - Was God an Astronaut?

Chapter 5 - Fiery Chariots from the Heavens

Chapter 6 - Ancient Imagination and Legends, or Ancient Facts?

Chapter 7 - Ancient Marvels or Space Travel Centers?

Chapter 8 - Easter Island—Land of the Bird Men

Chapter 9 - The Mysteries of South America and Other Oddities

Chapter 10 - The Earth’s Experience of Space

Chapter 11 - The Search for Direct Communication

Chapter 12 - Tomorrow

Bibliography

Index

Berkley Books by Erich von Däniken

CHARIOTS OF THE GODS
SIGNS OF THE GODS
PATHWAYS TO THE GODS

Most Berkley Books are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, or educational use. Special books, or book excerpts, can also be created to fit specific needs.

For details, write: Special Markets, The Berkley Publishing Group, 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

CHARIOTS OF THE GODS

A Berkley Book / published by arrangement with the author

PRINTING HISTORY
G. P. Putnam’s Sons edition / February 1970
G. P. Putnam / Berkley Medallion edition / April 1977
Berkley mass market edition / September 1980
Berkley trade paperback edition / January 1999

English translation © 1969 by Michael Heron and Souvenir Press. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission. For information address: The Berkley Publishing Group, a member of Penguin Putnam Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

The Penguin Putnam Inc. World Wide Web site address is http://www.penguinputnam.com

ISBN: 9781101076125

BERKLEY®

Berkley Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group, a member of Penguin Putnam Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

BERKLEY and the “B” design are trademarks belonging to Berkley Publishing Corporation.

19 20

Foreword

It was more than a quarter of a century ago—in February 1968—that my first book, Memories of the Future, was published by Econ, a German publisher. I had written the book two years earlier, but rejection letters from publishers fluttered on my desk with great regularity: “Sorry, not usable for our program ... ,” “We are very sorry ... ,” “We don’t want to go this way ... ,” “We recommend a more esoteric publisher....”

In later years I was often asked how this publishing miracle happened, to finally place this controversial work with a renowned textbook house. Today I can finally confess: with outside help and a little discretion.

I met Dr. Thomas von Randow, then the science editor of the weekly Die Zeit, in the summer of 1967. He leafed through the neatly typed manuscript, examined some of the peculiar pictures, and decided, “This is not for us. You have to publish it as a book.”

“And how does one find a publisher?”

Dr. von Randow puffed on his pipe, looked me straight in the eyes: “I do know a publisher. I could just give him a noncommittal call, if you wish.”

He picked up the telephone and asked to be connected with Dr. Erwin Barth von Wehrenalp, the chief of Econ Publishing. The blood rushed to my head. After all, I knew what Dr. von Randow could not know: My manuscript had already been turned down by Econ. Naturally, the ensuing conversation stuck in my gray brain cells.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley Books (January 1, 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0425166805
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0425166802
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.97 x 0.55 x 7.92 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #16,961 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #12 in Ancient & Controversial Knowledge
- #26 in UFOs (Books)
- #30 in Unexplained Mysteries (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 10,984 ratings

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Erich von Däniken

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Erich von Daniken is arguably the most widely read and most-copied nonfiction author in the world. He published his first (and best-known) book, Chariots of the Gods, in 1968. The worldwide best seller was followed by 40 more books, including the recent best sellers Twilight of the Gods, History is Wrong, Evidence of the Gods, Remnants of the Gods, and Odyssey of the Gods (all published by New Page Books).

His works have been translated into 28 languages and have sold more than 65 million copies. Several have also been made into films. Von Danikens ideas have been the inspiration for a wide range of television series, including the History Channel’s hit Ancient Aliens. His research organization, the AASRA/legendarytimes.com, comprises laymen and academics from all walks of life. Internationally, there are about 10,000 members. He lives in Switzerland but is an ever-present figure on the international lecture circuit, traveling more than 100,000 miles a year.

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Customers say

Customers find the book compelling and convincing. They appreciate the theory and research behind it. Readers consider it a good value for money, providing a great introduction to ancient aliens and their involvement in human history. The author is described as excellent and brilliant, taking you through human history and examining some of the many mysteries of our past. However, opinions differ on the erasure and writing quality - some find it classic and relevant now, while others mention it's dated.

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Readability Theory Value for money Evidence of ancient aliens Author Erasure Writing quality Photo quality

584 customers mention "Readability"555 positive29 negative

Customers find the book compelling, convincing, and worth reading. They describe it as an interesting read that leaves them with questions. The book is well-researched and detailed.

"..."Why couldn't this have happened to our ancestors?" It's very compelling and very convincing and in my opinion, makes way more sense than..." Read more

"...I enjoyed reading this classic and it opened my eyes to the possibility of alternative histories to our story. Would recommend!" Read more

"...Overall I am pleased with the book. It presented some wild ideas but I think Erich made impressive claims but was unable to prove any of them..." Read more

"A classic and important book that asks hundreds of questions about the true origins of man and evidence ancient alien visitors...." Read more

186 customers mention "Theory"160 positive26 negative

Customers find the theory believable and well-researched. They describe it as an important book that explores human history and questions about the past. Readers appreciate the unique perspective and valid points that the author makes.

"...I think it's a great place to start, and I already have a list of books compiled that I want to read next. - Amanda Zamiska, Pittsburgh, PA" Read more

"Very unique and interesting perspective on the human story...." Read more

"A classic and important book that asks hundreds of questions about the true origins of man and evidence ancient alien visitors...." Read more

"...coupled with his alternative explanations and proofs were not only plausible, but also down right convincing...." Read more

34 customers mention "Value for money"28 positive6 negative

Customers find the book offers good value for money. They say it's worth the price and a great seller.

"...But on the whole, it was a good buy." Read more

"...I would suggest this to anyone who feels interested. Great bang for the buck!" Read more

"...Well worth the time and money." Read more

"...I am happy that I managed to find this book online for such a great price...." Read more

32 customers mention "Evidence of ancient aliens"27 positive5 negative

Customers find the book a good introduction to the ancient alien theory. They say it provides good examples of extraterrestrial involvement in earth activities. The book helps them explore their origins and connections to possible aliens in the past.

"...hundreds of questions about the true origins of man and evidence ancient alien visitors. An easy and enthralling read for teens and older." Read more

"...There are different theories of our existence and learning about them is interesting...." Read more

"...from ancient buildings, to religious stories, to the origins of humans is discussed...." Read more

"...i would still recommend this book because the ancient alien theory is really interesting." Read more

17 customers mention "Author"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the author's insights into human history and mysteries. The book is easy to read, with relevant questions and facts. Readers praise the author as an outstanding storyteller who weaves his theories with facts.

"...Von Daniken is a master storyteller weaving his theories with facts from around the world. The Pyramids- how were they really built?..." Read more

"...This nonfiction book was truly mind opening. The author will take you through human history and examine some of the many mysteries of our past...." Read more

"...He's a good author and the types of notions he puts forth in his books are very interesting and he always backs his claims with evidence...." Read more

"...The author makes an intriguing and carefully backed up case for this. This book is very bought provoking and persuasive...." Read more

39 customers mention "Erasure"21 positive18 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book. Some find it a classic and appreciate the 50th Anniversary Edition. Others mention some of the information is outdated or needs updating.

"A classic and important book that asks hundreds of questions about the true origins of man and evidence ancient alien visitors...." Read more

"...The book is slightly outdated (such as a quote from NASA saying we'll "definately" land a person on Mars no later than 1986.)..." Read more

"...I don't know. But, this is a classic work and if it interests you it's well worth a look." Read more

"...Some of the information in this book is extremely outdated — for example the statement that Werner von Braun said man would be on Mars by 1986…..." Read more

39 customers mention "Writing quality"26 positive13 negative

Customers have different views on the writing quality. Some find it well-written and easy to follow, with a personal style that describes things well. Others feel it's too wordy, full of grammatical and spelling errors, and technical. The writing style seems outdated by today's standards, making it hard to follow.

"...that 90% of the population wouldn't understand, he writes in a more personal style and describes things very well...." Read more

"...His writing style is conversational and non threatening. He provides the facts and asks thw reader to draw their own conclusions...." Read more

"...He's very quick to jump to conclusions about monuments being "impossible" to create and that it's equally impossible that someone would just wake up..." Read more

"...Again. Because, what I see is a well written argument and a well stated afterword defense by a still spry and smart 80 something year old Erich Von..." Read more

19 customers mention "Photo quality"7 positive12 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the photo quality. Some find the photos great and glossy, stimulating conversation and thought about the place. Others mention the photos are blurry, small, and hard to see any detail. The version has less photos and they are black and white, making it harder to understand.

"It’s ok. The photos in the book need some clearing up though. They’re too blurry." Read more

"...the photos alone will stimulate conversation, and perhaps some more thought as to where our place is in our universe." Read more

"...This version has less photos and they are black and white, making it harder to figure out what you're looking at in some cases...." Read more

"...writing style is terribly dated by today's standards, the photos are both grainy and dull, absolutely nothing has been updated in subsequent editions..." Read more

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Amanda E.
Excellent perspective, great theories, relatable writing
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2014
Verified Purchase

I am only on chapter 4, but I already absolutely love it. I originally, like most of you, heard of Erich's work through the tv show Ancient Aliens that more or less features his research and theories. This being the most popular of his books, I bought it to sink my teeth into some more details and get deeper into the theories, because I think they are fascinating. When my book arrived, I was so excited, and after just the first two chapters, any doubt in this theory had left my mind. The first two chapters are all about putting the universe into perspective, then he describes a hypothetical scenario followed by a "Why couldn't this have happened to our ancestors?" It's very compelling and very convincing and in my opinion, makes way more sense than what mainstream scientists try to shove down our throats.

It infuriates me that in school and in the news we are always told what to believe. This guy came along with his own theory and millions of people are picking up on this idea because it makes more sense than the history books, in my opinion. And for the naysayers that say he is crazy, who are they to decide who is right and wrong? A theory is like an opinion, and can't be redacted just because somebody says it should be. For so long everyone thought the world was flat, because it would be impossible for people to stand on the underside of a globe. They thought the earth was the center of the universe. Science advanced and we found out they were wrong. Science has been wrong before, but they seem to not want to accept that, and just stay in their bubble, ignorant to the rest of the theories out there because surely they think they could never be wrong again. I truly believe that if this topic were researched further with the most advanced technology, we would find something incredible. Unfortunately, that day may never come if the coming generation's brilliant minds are forced into narrow-minded thinking. It would take generations and generations of open-mindedness, but eventually I hope the world comes to be as fascinated in these theories as I am, and move forward with more research and testing. Furthermore, with the Mars One project approaching, what are we doing? We are finding a planet that is habitable, and we're going to colonize it. One day ancestors of native Martian humans will tell their grandchildren about how they came from a distant planet. If we are going to be aliens on Mars, is it really logical to think this is the first time a civilization has ever traveled to another planet? Can you confirm without a doubt that we are the first beings to travel through space and land on another surface different from our own? I don't think so.

The book is written in a very easy to comprehend writing style. Instead of using huge complex words and sentences that 90% of the population wouldn't understand, he writes in a more personal style and describes things very well. His words have great imagery to them which also helps to completely understand his message.

If you have an open mind and are not opposed to learning about the ancient astronaut theories, you MUST read this book. I think it's a great place to start, and I already have a list of books compiled that I want to read next.

- Amanda Zamiska, Pittsburgh, PA

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Spencer M
Loved this!
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2024
Verified Purchase
Very unique and interesting perspective on the human story. I enjoyed reading this classic and it opened my eyes to the possibility of alternative histories to our story. Would recommend!

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5 people found this helpful

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M. LaPlante
Chariots of the Gods
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2012
Verified Purchase
Chariots of the Gods is a book needing little introduction. The ideas introduced here launched author von Däniken to a certain degree of fame (and infamy) around the world. The concept of alien gods intervening in the early development of man would live on for decades in the numerous books, films, and documentaries that would follow.

Having been first published over four decades ago, there are parts of Chariots which have not aged well. Some bits are downright depressing: It turns out that not only did we fail to land on Mars by 1986, as was once a "certainty," but we've seemingly given up the quest entirely. The writer's optimism toward man's progress, anchored in the early achievements of the space age, simply did not align with a future written by politicians and tax payers. That said, despite becoming dated, a discussion of technology was essentially unavoidable given the nature of the material.

If I have one fault to find with the writing, it would be that the author tends to dwell on the refusal of the scientific community to consider his proposals. He tells us, continuously, how historical dogma is accepted without questioning, and how we must not be closed minded to alternatives. It's hard to fault the man, as he was essentially predicting (rather accurately) the shunning and dismissal his writing would receive in scientific circles. Still, as the reader, I'm already effectively committed as his audience, and I don't find it entirely necessary to beat the poor horse quite so badly.

A note about production quality: The mass market paperback is a bit disappointing. The pictures, in particular, are almost impossible to view. But I guess you get what you pay for, and that does not reflect the overall quality of the source material.

Ultimately I highly recommend this book. The key, I think, is to focus on the questions posed in the content, rather than the conclusions. It's the questions which are fascinating, and it's the questions which, more often than not, continue to stand the test of time. How did ancient civilizations query and transport boulders so massive they would challenge even modern machinery? For what purpose were giant structures and drawings that could only be viewed from space? Why did religions spanning the physical earth, and without regular contact with one another, share such similar stories of origin? How did ancient cartographers gain knowledge of seemingly "undiscovered" lands, and ancient astronomers of planets and galaxies only recently observed with modern optics?

It's amazing how little we know about our own past. Whether or not one is able to buy in to the proposal of visitation by extraterrestrial intelligences being a plausible conclusion, any sufficiently curious person should be taken in by the mysteries which modern doctrine tends to gloss over.

Rating: 5/5

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Oswaldo Lozada Galan
Es muy interesante te
Reviewed in Mexico on October 16, 2023
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Muy bueno

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seeke
Read it.
Reviewed in Germany on December 7, 2024
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Read it.

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José Amaral
Perfect condition
Reviewed in Spain on February 22, 2024
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On time, great conditions, good price.

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Eduardo R. Dias
Amazing
Reviewed in Brazil on May 25, 2020
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I had already heard about the theories of extraterrestrials visiting earlier human civilizations, but had never read such a competing and fascinating account of the several evidences that led to said theories. I'm looking forward to reading the other books by von Daniken.

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Vikram Singh
A Book That Suggests We Were Visited by Aliens Earlier in History
Reviewed in India on December 26, 2020
Verified Purchase
A tiny 150 page book packed with historical and archeological information, seemingly meant for the skeptical scientific community who were "refusing" to "believe" in aliens.

The author provides us with an enormous amount of information that is heavily mythological and he invites us to look differently into all of those cave drawings and thombs of Egypt.

It really reminded me of a program "ANCIENT ALLIENS" by the HISTORY CHANNEL. Another book that this reminded me of was "Sapiens" by Yuval Noah Harrari.

I can't say wether I liked this book. I guess it was not what I was expecting. I was expecting something a bit more New Agey and "woo-woo" (which I enjoy), but this was more scientific and "clever", at times futuristic and "Star-Trekkish" but at the same time it didn't seem shocking or like "news".

Everything seemed known or heard before, so either I'm reading at the bad time or it just wasn't what I was looking for. Nevertheless, I'm happy to have read this book because I've heard people talking about it, so it's great to know why.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent perspective, great theories, relatable writing

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Book That Suggests We Were Visited by Aliens Earlier in History

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