An Illustrated Guide to The Lost Symbol »

John Weber is the publisher at Welcome Rain. He edited The Tao Of Bada Bing: Words Of Wisdom From The Sopranos with Chuck Kim, and The World According To Rummy. He has packaged or published several bestsellers including A Monk Swimming by Malachy McCourt, Love Letters by Michelle Lovric. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Rich in world history and political power, veiled in secrecy, and rife with rituals and arcane symbols — from art and architecture to the images that adorn our currency — the Freemasons arose from ambiguous origins centuries ago to play a major role in drafting the initial documents of the United States, and even in constructing the intricate landscape of Washington, D.C., itself a virtual mystery by design. These puzzles lay the foundation for Dan Brown's serpentine thriller, The Lost Symbol, and also raise provocative questions. Why do some Masonic symbols remain obscured, while others are hidden in plain sight? Which presidents were the embodiments of Masonic ideals? What is the significance of the construction of the Library of Congress, Washington National Cathedral, the Washington Monument, the Capitol, and the physical layout of Washington, D.C.'s roadways and cul-de-sacs? And to what secretive end do they all lead?

Now millions of curious fans can follow Robert Langdon step-by-step, and discover for themselves the answers to the absorbing conundrums posed by The Lost Symbol in this comprehensive, fully illustrated, and intricately detailed tour of the arcana of Washington, D.C. It takes readers through the enigmatic codes, captivating trivia, unfathomable riddles, intriguing records, historic maps, ciphers, and conspiracies of the phenomenal bestseller. What's more, it reveals the fascinating details of a world of unknown locales, mysticism, intrigue, and secret societies — all of which lie in the shadow of The Lost Symbol.

The House of the Temple 1

Chapter 1 Freemasonry and the Ancient Mysteries 7

The Mysteries W.L. Wihnshurst 9

Hidden in Plain Sight 11

Speculative Masonry Jasper Ridley 12

King Nimrod, the First and Most Excellent Master? 15

Sufi Origins Robert Graves 17

The Legend of Hiram Abiff Michael Baigent Richard Leigh 24

The Lost Word Gerard de Nerval 25

As Above, So Below Manly Palmer Hall 35

Symbolic Masonry John J. Robinson 38

The Wayfarer John J. Robinson 46

The Knights Templar and the Secret of the Scroll John White 48

The Capitol 54

Chapter 2 America's Secret Destiny 63

Excerpt from The New Atlantis Sir Francis Bacon 65

The Invisible College-On Wheels Frances A. Yates 69

Masonic Civility During the Revolutionary War Michael Baigent Richard Leigh 72

The Great Seal of the United States Joseph Campbell Bill Moyers 78

The Library of Congress 88

Chapter 3 Pierre L-Enfant and the Founding of Washington, D.C. 95

The Great Dinner Michael Bober 97

Pierre L'Enfant Designs the Federal City Michael Bober 102

Pierre L'Enfant and the Sacred Geometry of Washington D.C. Nicholas R. Mann 108

The Smithsonian Museum Support Center Loren Coleman 112

Chapter 4 Noetic Science 115

Noetic Science Edgar D. Mitchell 117

Toward Homo Noeticus John White 122

An Interview with Noetic Scientist Marilyn Schlitz 124

The PEAR Laboratory Brenda Dunne 129

Is the Global Mind Real? Roger Nelson 131

Inside the Entangled Global Mind Dean Radin 134

The George Washington Masonic Memorial 136

Chapter 5 Decoding The Lost Symbol 139

Solving the Codes on the Cover of The Lost Symbol Greg Taylor 141

Chamber of Reflection Jess Maghan 147

The Double-Headed Phoenix LorenColeman 148

Magic Squares Clifford A. Pickover 151

Kryptos Greg Taylor 154

Chapter 6 Conspiracy Theory 163

Conspiracy Theory Umberto Eco 164

The Washington Monument Nicholas R. Mann 170

Notes, Sources, and Permissions 180