Gods: Sekret Machines

ABSOLUTELY BLOWN AWAY 👽👽👽👽👾👾👾👾

A ton of usable information instead of the recycling of the same old tired and worn out Ancient Aliens story. I had to go back and read most of the material a 2nd time and in several areas a 3rd time due to the magnitude of it all. Originally I was trying to do all of the book in the audio format but found that it was more than I could process. Much much easier to keep my head above water by actually reading the material word for word the old fashion way. ABSOLUTELY love it to say the least. I give them a 5 out of 5 all the way around. I wore out the "back" button. Obviously my listening skills need to honed somewhat. LOL

14 of 15 people found this review helpful

Fresh, Insightful, Inspiring and Necessary

As someone new to the study of Ufology but well versed in religious studies, there wasn't much new information in this book, and many of its ideas I've had on my own. However, I still enjoyed it very much. There were definetly some new insights I'd never had presented and new factoids as well. Really though, it was so refreshing to have this info presented in such a rational and reasonable and enjoyable fashion. All the other texts I've read regarding this stuff have done a disservice to their topics with their poor and overreaching "scholarship" assumptions and conclusions. This introduction to these topics blends old ideas in new and exciting ways without discrediting itself, (unlike it's predissessors). I've read other negative reviews complaining there is nothing new here, but they don't understand the point of the book. Someone needed to present this with integrity, and the authors did. The material also is a necessary introduction to the discussions and conclusions that are yet to come. And there actually IS new info here. There are insights that one may have personally had, but which hadn't been well textualized before. This is a book that even the most skeptical should feel comfortable reading or listening too, and it communicates ideas that it is time for skeptics to hear.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A Big Picture scholarly approach to humanity & UFO

This first book in the series is filled with an overview of humanity's development. It covers a broad span of time, includes mythology, religions, history, genetics, consciousness, and much more. This book is laying a foundation to "bring up to speed" people who have been busy working and paying bills and who may have had time to read or learn about some of these things, but not all of these things.

What I love about books is that a person takes a topic they have spent (hopefully) decades studying/doing/knowing and puts it all in one book. When covering the topic of humanity and the topic of UFOs and what it might mean, there's going to be a lot of foundation to lay if you want to look at the big picture.

Some people may have information on specific UFO incidents or specific people known in UFOlogy, but the big picture is harder to see. I really like to read the writings or ideas of people who wonder what it all means - such as John Keel or Jacques Vallee - they touch on such concepts and questions - they ask and think about what is happening to humanity in their writing.

This book was tough going for me. I had to use the "back" function on my iPod a lot. There isn't empty fluff in here and most sentences are info-packed and sometimes after a string of such sentences I had to go back and listen again because I got overwhelmed with so much information.

I took a break mid-way and bought the companion fiction book and listened to that. (Chasing Shadows by A.J. Hartley/Tom DeLonge) There's a big difference! That was entertaining, not deep.

This book is laying a knowledge foundation and I look forward to the rest of the series.

Will this finally be the "real truth?" Who knows. But I'm learning a lot and my mind is stretching. There's no way I could have spent the time to read all the books and ideas that are distilled into this one book, so I feel like a person who is interested in learning is going to get their money's worth. The difference in this book from the companion fiction book is evident, and a look at the other books by co-author Peter Levenda shows his scholarly interests.

The narration and audio book production are very good.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Ancient Aliens Redux

For all it's posturing and promise that it's not simply another Ancient Aliens premise, this is exactly what it is. Book two of Sekret Machines is an essay on the history of religion, and how that relates to 'contact'. The claim is that contact, or multiple contacts with a higher intelligence is what has formed all of our religions. The dogma, and all the associated practices is nothing more than man's attempt to recreate or honor those beings.

I don't think the premise is flawed, but it's certainly not original. It does take a more academic look at this theory, and doesn't make such sensational claims the way many in this field do. Delonge insists that he is laying the groundwork for yet more books and more media that will make disclosure of the phenomena a reality. Maybe his intentions are true, but one has to wonder if this is just another 'emperors new clothes' idea. He's selling us a bill of goods that is nothing but smoke and mirrors. If he's a true insider as he claims to be, he has yet to provide one shred of evidence that hasn't already existing in the field of Ufo lore. Of course, he plans to release that information 'in the next book'.

So, us readers and interested citizens are force to follow the this carrot on a stick and see if we ever find out the truth.

The narration is boring, but that's hardly the presenters fault, the material is largely dry and repetitive.

A note on the production value. There seemed to be some sort of popping or clicking during the reading of this. I only noticed this while in a quiet environment, or using my headphones, so It may have not been present always. It was quite annoying though.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Tom Does It Again, Unfortunately

I have to believe that this book and Sekret Machines are the only two books that reviewers have ever read. Given that, it's nice that Tom hit fiction and nonfiction, both. I actually finished Sekret, the way you finish a colonoscopy, albeit without the painkillers. But there is no way I can feel enough loathing for my time and intellect, to go through with reading this horrid book. Tom managed to use "anthropomorphic" and its variations 27 times in the first quarter of the book and missed the bulls eye every time. He needs a link to Merriam-Webster. The book is rambling in the same way that a crashed 737 has landed. It fumbles around so much that it can't carry a single thread of thought. Yep, these reviews are from pop punk fans. They don't expect much, don't get it, and everything looks better when you're stoned.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Interesting, but to what end? Does nothing new.

I couldn't finish it, I'm very happy I used a freebie on this one. It's dull, goes down a bunch of avenues and the book does a sloppy job at making me care about its interpretation of the Bible and history. Yawn, and I like alternate history but if alien Jesus is the best you got, just guessing from where I stopped, been there done that.
This book doesn't bring anything new to the table, history channels aliens series incorporates facts better than this and at least keeps my attention. Let's be real, this book is the history channels aliens without wacky haired stoner guy telling me my existence is a lie. And whatever else is in there doesn't add new evidence to support the books claims.
This book trys to be too serious without data too support its claim. Delonge, use those conned shareholder dollars to hire a ghost writer to spice up the sequel, if you're not bringing new research to the table.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Meh

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would change the narrator.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Nope

Any additional comments?

I'm surprised by the high reviews for this book. It was meandering and repetitive. It was an attempt by Tom to make what is a theory, with very little evidence supporting it, sound like fact. But apparently Tom knows the facts; he just can't talk about it. I got half-way through and jumped to the last chapter without feeling like I missed anything important. The bottom line is the book was disappointing. Like a lot of you researching Tom's books his company's disclosure got me interested in the UFO phenomena again. Part of me wants to get Sekret Machines. But the wiser, more experienced side of me knows it's going to be a let down. I hope Tom Delonge really knows something because this "soft-disclosure" thing sounds like a scam to bait investors.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Very esoteric and repetitive

Was not an enjoyable listen!
Very boring. Felt they needed to Just say what they needed to say. Instead of beating around the bush.

Pure Nonesense

This book is an endless stream of information. Unproven, speculative, bizarre information. Pure nonsense. It's not even entertaining nonsense, its dry and boring. It's like listening to a compulsive liar who's just done a load of cocaine make stuff up... You just keep listening and listening waiting for a conclusion a revelation or something intriguing, even just something that holds together and makes sense and it just doesn't come. Confusing, baffling and Utter utter boring rubbish.

Super thought provoking.

Very interesting hearing all these times from history, religion, government, military, media etc and how they relate to "the phenomenon". You have to pay attention though. It's not something you can just passively listen to.