Visionary: The Mysterious Origins of Human Consciousness (The Definitive Edition of Supernatural)

by Graham Hancock

Overview

The latest archaeology and history redefining book from bestselling author Graham Hancock (Fingerprints of the Gods), who is featured in Ancient Apocalypse, a hit Netflix original docuseries.

"With the original unabridged text of Supernatural, I offer the reader an investigation that explores the human experience with psychedelics from the Stone Age to the Space Age and the role of these extraordinary plant medicines as tools to investigate the nature of reality itself."—Graham Hancock

Discover the pathway to the gods.

Less than 50,000 years ago mankind had no art, no religion, no sophisticated symbolism, no innovative thinking. Then, in a dramatic and electrifying change, described by scientists as "the greatest riddle in human history," all the skills and qualities that we value most highly in ourselves appeared already fully formed, as though bestowed on us by hidden powers.

In Visionary, Graham Hancock sets out to investigate this mysterious "before-and-after moment" and to discover the truth about the influences that gave birth to modern human mind. His quest takes him on a journey of adventure and detection from the stunningly beautiful painted caves of prehistoric France, Spain, and Italy to remote rock shelters in the mountains of South Africa, where he finds a treasure trove of extraordinary Stone Age art.

Hancock uncovers clues that lead him to travel to the depths of the Amazon rainforest to drink the powerful plant hallucinogen ayahuasca with Indian shamans, whose paintings contain images of "supernatural beings" identical to the animal-human hybrids depicted in prehistoric caves and rock shelters. Hallucinogens such as mescaline also produce visionary encounters with exactly the same beings. Scientists at the cutting edge of consciousness research have begun to consider the possibility that such hallucinations may be real perceptions of other "dimensions."

Could the "supernaturals" first depicted in the painted caves and rock shelters be the ancient teachers of mankind? Could it be that human evolution is not just the "blind," "meaningless" process that Darwin identified, but something more purposive and intelligent, something that we have barely even begun to understand?

Previously published as Supernatural, this definitive edition includes a new Introduction by Graham Hancock as well as restored chapters that were omitted from the original paperback release.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781637480069
Publisher:	Red Wheel/Weiser
Publication date:	04/04/2022
Pages:	640
Sales rank:	144,108
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.60(d)

About the Author

Graham Hancock is the author of major international nonfiction bestsellers including The Sign and the Seal, Magicians of the Gods, Fingerprints of the Gods and his most recent New York Times bestseller America Before. His books have sold more than seven million copies worldwide and have been translated into thirty languages. He has appeared in the TV series, Quest for the Lost Civilization and Underworld: Flooded Kingdoms of the Ice Age. Hancock’s public lectures, radio and TV appearances, and his strong online presence have put his ideas before an audience of millions. He resides in the UK.
Follow him on Facebook at @Author.GrahamHancock.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements xi

Introduction to the New Edition xv

Part I The Visions 1

1 The Plant that Enables Men to See the Dead 3

2 The Greatest Riddle of Archaeology 11

3 Vine of Souls 27

Part II The Caves 55

4 Therianthropy 57

5 Riddles of the Caves 79

6 The Shabby Academy 113

7 Searching for a Rosetta Stone 135

8 The Code in the Mind 165

9 Serpents of the Drakensberg 197

10 The Wounded Healer 225

Part III The Beings 245

11 Voyage into the Supernatural 247

12 Shamans in the Sky 263

13 Spirit Love 289

14 The Secret Commonwealth 305

15 Here Is a Thing that Will Carry Me Away 317

16 Dancers between Worlds 335

Part IV The Codes 353

17 Tuning in to Channel DMT 355

18 Amongst the Machine Elves 365

19 Ancient Teachers in Our DNA? 391

20 The Hurricane in the Junkyard 405

Part V The Religions 419

21 The Hidden Shamans 421

22 Flesh of the Gods 451

Part VI The Mysteries 475

23 Doors Leading to Another World 477

Appendices 499

Critics and Criticisms of David Lewis-Williams' "Neuropsychological Theory" of Rock and Cave Art 501

Psilocybe semilanceata-A Hallucinogenic Mushroom Native to Europe. By Professor Roy Wading, OBE 521

Interview with Rick Strassman, MD 525

Notes and References 535

Index 601

Editorial Reviews

Provocative and fascinating.” 

The Daily Mail

"Hancock is intelligent and articulate, and his writing is as expert as you would expect from an esteemed international correspondent." 

The Scotsman

"Hancock's most important book... Quite Stunning." 

The Independent on Sunday

"As gripping as any thriller, but with profound implications for the values and future development of humanity." 

Newstatesman

"Hancock’s work is a welcome exploration and celebration of the mystery inside our skulls."

The Guardian

Graham Hancock is no stranger to controversy. The former journalist, whose books have sold five million copies in the past 10 years, has repeatedly dared to challenge scientific shibboleths, taking a run at entrenched thinking in archaeology, geology and astronomy.

The Globe and Mail

Previously published as Supernatural (2015), this new definitive edition of Visionary includes a new Introduction by Graham Hancock as well as restored chapters that were omitted from the original paperback release. …deftly narrated by Hancock and will have a very special appeal to students and non-specialist general readers who are interest in anthropology, prehistory, and human evolution.” —Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher