I just finished reading Mysteries of History by Robert Stewart, and it was an interesting mix of history, myth, and explanation. The book is full of illustrations, which made it easy and fun to flip through. Each chapter takes on a mystery—things like the pyramids, Stonehenge, the Underground Railroad, Roanoke Island, and more—and looks at what’s fact and what’s exaggeration.
What surprised me most is that a lot of these so-called mysteries weren’t really mysterious at all once you read the explanations. For example, the pyramids often get presented as a big historical riddle, but in reality, they were more like a giant contest between pharaohs to show off their power—a kind of ancient “who can build the biggest monument” competition. They were also said to be filled with treasure, but when they were opened, no treasure was found. There’s no evidence that tomb robbers got there first, so it raises the question: was the treasure ever there at all, or did it somehow vanish by unknown means? Either way, it’s more of a puzzle than the grand mystery people think.
Stonehenge was another interesting section. A lot of people have connected it with religion and even human sacrifice, but the book explains there’s no altar for sacrifice there. Instead, it was much more scientific—lined up with the sun and stars, acting as an early calendar. That made it less dark and more practical than the myths suggest.
The book also explored whether the Chinese might have beaten Columbus to America, which was interesting to consider, and it covered the story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. After reading this, Roanoke felt less mysterious—it seemed like a case of people moving on or joining with local tribes rather than some unsolvable disappearance.
One of the most enjoyable sections for me was about the Knights Templar. They started during the Crusades and became powerful and wealthy. Some say they weren’t as religious as they claimed, and that’s why the church cast them out. Others think rival kings spread rumors to get rid of them because they had become too powerful. Either way, it was fascinating to read about how much influence they had and how suddenly it was all stripped away.
The Underground Railroad section was also worth mentioning. It explained that while it wasn’t as massive or organized as some stories make it seem, it still played an important role in helping enslaved people escape to freedom. It gave a more grounded perspective that I appreciated.
Overall, this was a good read, especially with all the visuals and the way National Geographic packaged the stories. But since a lot of it felt more like debunking than real discovery, I’d give it a 3 out of 5 stars.
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