Rating: 
Summary: At Last, a Sensible Book About the Masons
Review: This book is a combination of the history of the Freemasons and the debunking of myths. The Freemasons organization has been accused of many things throughout the world, such as assassinations and revolutions, but Ridley scrutinizes these accusations and explains that most of this is coincidental or that the myth-writer has a different agenda.The history of the Freemasons covers the beginnings in the British Isles and the creation of lodges in Europe, Asia, and South and North America. He explains how the membership of the lodges has changed through time as well as how the lodge has changed its organization. He does not seek to expose any secrets, but points out that the organization is similar to many others, but prefers to keep it rituals and initiations to itself. This secrecy, according to Ridley, is the main reason why there are so many conspiracy theories concerning the Freemasons. An example of the theories is that Jack the Ripper was a Freemason, and another is that the Freemasons started the American Revolution. He points out that although some of the American founding fathers were Freemasons, many of them were not. He also points out that less democratic governments tend to fear the lodge and will present any manner of propaganda to suppress it. This is a good book to read to learn a bit more about the organization. Also, if you are a conspiracy theorist, I would recommend reading this for balance.
Rating: 
Summary: Good historical review
Review: This book is a well written dissertation involving the quite extensive history of Freemasonry. Reading it, though very hard to follow at times, is like sitting down beside a fire and asking a grandfather about his past experiences. The information tends to drag its feet and many times appears to get stuck with no forward momentum; at still other times you will scratch your head and wonder what you just read. If your intent is to develop a further appreciation of the history of Freemasonry then this book receives many stars. If, however, your intent is to grab a good book on a night you cannot fall asleep you should heed this warning - DO NOT READ LYING DOWN! I did on numerous occasions and awoke the next morning having lost my place and wondering what exactly I had read the night before. The author does a very good job of highlighting, throughout the book, famous names that were involved in Freemasonry. He also highlights much of the foundation of Freemasonry and its journey through the evolution of the world as we know it today. The last three chapters make the entire book worth the reading time when the author sums up Freemasonry in England, the USA, and how Masonry is defined as a menace to society. Ridley also does a wonderful job of stifling many popular arguments waged by such authors as Knight, Ankerberg, Robertson, and many more. The author has apparently done his homework.
Rating:
Summary: WOW! what a Title,
Review: With the many books of like title, I expected us to take another bashing, Yes, I am a Freemason. Yet, I have to let you know that I have found this latest book's author quite different and supprizingly unbiased and very informitive, The author Jasper Ridley has written such works as The Roundheads, The Statesman and Fanatic, and biographies of persons of such note as John Knox, Mary Tudor, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Tito and Mussolini..
Mr. Ridley not being a Freemason spent some 63 days in The Masonic Library in Freemasons Hall in London in an attempt, as he puts it of "writing an objective book on the subject," I believe he has accomplished the task, it is a meticulous, sane and lucid.
He shifts the truth from the myth and takes us from the Tower of Babel
to Freemasonry in America today and answers the question for the world. "Are Freemasons a Menice ?", It is also a Who,s Who of artist, businessmen, politicians and thinkers in countries all over the world who belong to our great fraternity
He gives the contributions of the Craft to the World, refutes many of the alligations made against us and tells of our shortcomings: such as clannishness, misogyny, obsession with
secrecy and devotion to arcane ritual.
This book truly provides balance from all the wild claims that come out from time to time and all the Anti-Masonic literature that is on the market.
If you have bought a book on Masonry in the last 15 Years then you need this one to bring it into focus, and for our detractors, a great gift !. Thanks for writing it. Mr. Ridley
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