The Secret of Secrets

I’m already a big fan of Dan Brown, and this book didn’t disappoint. From the very first chapter, it pulled me in and kept me on the edge of my seat. I found myself Googling little bits of information as I went, and to my delight, everything I checked turned out to be true—so I even learned a few new things along the way. The mix of fast-paced suspense and fascinating historical detail is exactly what I love about Brown’s writing. An exciting, thought-provoking read that I couldn’t put down!

This is a stunner, perhaps the best DB book since The Da Vinci Code.My philosophy of reviewing is that it involves three questions. What did the author set out to do? Did the author accomplish that? Was it worth doing? In the case of DB we have a specific kind of book. It has a pile-driver plot. It has interesting characters but it is not really character-driven. It is popular fiction. In addition to plot its long suits are setting and subject matter. Here we are largely in Prague, with momentary side trips to New York City.The title refers to consciousness (Langdon’s girlfriend Katherine has written a book on the subject). Consciousness is indeed the most challenging element of brain science and it includes both scientific and spiritual dimensions of immense importance. In the novel the plot is advanced by the principal fact that Katherine Solomon’s book on the subject keeps disappearing; someone does not want this book to hit the booksellers’ shelves. Who? Why?DB writes this story with a hand tied behind his back. He requires that the science all be right (this may make it somewhat fanciful, but not science fiction) and that the setting (also something strange and almost mystical) be rendered faithfully and honestly.Bottom line: this is the kind of writing which requires enormous planning and research. At the same time it must be intelligible to a broad range of readers and it must be plausible.The book succeeds on all counts. It is both the ultimate popular read and something with fascinating and important scientific/spiritual content.It is, unmistakably, a ‘Dan Brown book’. It is not Dostoevsky; nor was it meant to be. Those who write condescending reviews of it should themselves attempt to write such a book and they should be reminded that readers can enjoy and admire a wide range of genres and styles. (Yes, I wrote this review after reading a snooty review by an individual who probably longs for an audience as wide as DB’s. And, yes, there is also some puritanism at work there. Great 18thc readers like Addison and Samuel Johnson knew that ‘honest pleasure’—the kind that will neither send you to prison nor to hell—was a great desideratum in our culture, a lesson that is often lost on those who consider such pleasure beneath them.)

Thought provoking book.I am always waiting for Dan Brown books- he manages to present a lot of controversial topics in an extremely entertaining way. I can only imagine how many hours he spends on research to be able to even mention the theories.Dan Brown is obviously an erudite, but I am not and it usually takes me sometime before I can even try to process all the ideas covered. I first read the book just to get to the end of interesting plot of his books. Should mention I read rather fast. But then I return to the book later to go at a slower rate and try to absorb the information and ideas. Brilliant books!

It's good but...Starts falling apart near the end when the scientists are discovering the true depths of villainy of their opponents and need to leave the secure facility with the evidence. What do they do? Have a detailed discussion. More talking, discussing, "Wow, look how far they've come!" "Gee maybe we should get out of here?" "But wait! What about this? What about that?" "Oh well, maybe we should talk some more?"Baffling and definitely not aligned with smart thinking, human nature. It's weird. I get the author had to introduce these concepts but it makes the story jarring at this point.

I was fascinated by the premise of this book. The idea that conciousness comes from outside the brain and not originating from the brain was new to me. Relating that premise to so many things with which we are all familiar was eye opening. I sometimes had to remind myself that this is a work of fiction. Then to weave a thriller around that premise made for a very good story. Robert Langdon is a tried and true protagonist. Katherine Solomon, a new character, provided a love interest which was missing from earlier Langdon novels and is his intellectual equal. Together they get in and out of any number of life threatening situations in unique and clever ways.The book is too long by 100 pages. The story got overly complex with too many sub-plots. The descriptive passages of Prague as well as the buildings where the story took place and the technical jargon could have been shortened. The supporting cast was not very memorable. All this cost a star in the rating, however, I would still recommend the book to those who love the Robert Langdon series and who enjoy having their core beliefs about how the brain works challenged.