The Da Vinci Hoax: Exposing the Errors in the Da Vinci Code (Paperback)

For one thing, it extensively quotes not only the main characters in Brown's book as they relate their version of "history," it also has quite a few quotes from the author himself from various interviews. These quotes are then examined for accuracy in relation to a wide variety of expert opinion. In every case, the quotes Brown has his characters utter, as well as his own quotes, are shown to be either simply false or the opinions of a tiny minority of authors whose views have been found wanting at the bar of history and scholarship. This book, which is about twice as long as Bock's book (which is limited pretty much to the time before Constantine and the Council of Nicea), also covers a good deal more ground. Topics addressed include Holy Grail myths, the real Templars, the Priory of Sion silliness, and errors in interpreting not only Leonardo's Last Supper but his take on art, the occult, and Christianity in general.

If you think The Da Vinci Code--the foundations of which are a synthesis of Holy Blood, Holy Grail, The Templar Revelation, The Chalice and the Blade, Drawing Down the Moon, and the works of Margaret Starbird and other marginalized and/or discredited books--accurately depicts what really went on in Western history (which no serious person does who has any familiarity with the available materials), then you will not like any of the books debunking Dan Brown's ridiculous book, least of all this one. But if you want to find out what really happened, this gives as complete an accounting as you'll find anywhere.

In sum, this critique is extensive, even exhaustive, and in the end entirely persuasive.

If a writer is writing historical fiction and tells his readers in story, say, that George Washington was a serial rapist and slave butcher - and that book sells a kazillion copies and is made into a movie, this reviewer would have us believe those books written to tell us the facts about Washington are all 'exploitation' silliness and unnecessary. Isn't it the writer of such fiction, who turns history on its head to advance a political or anti-religious agenda, the real exploiter? 'The Da Vinci Hoax,' by telling us the facts and correcting the absurd assertions and irresponsible errors of 'The Da Vinci Code,' will help, one hopes, to prevent Dan Brown's anti-clerical diatribe and exploitation of people's interest in the historical Jesus from becoming the popular understanding of Christian history. I say "one hopes" not because of any deficiency in this book; its scholarship and care in refuting the innuendo and outright nonsense of 'Code' is as comprehensive a treatment as will ever be published, I expect, and the authors are to be commended for their sobriety and their never descending to Brown's level. My doubts about its efficacy in correcting the growing popular idea, consequent to the 'Code,' that Jesus of Nazareth lived on after his crucifixion are only due to the greater reach of sensational fiction and a movie as compared to a non-fiction book, however well written and documented.

Anyone who has read 'The Da Vinci Code' will be well served by reading the antidote in 'Hoax' to Brown's slow-acting poison. I will be giving copies to friends enamored of its hip take on history and flip attitude toward Catholicism and Christianity in general. Brown writes from a sneering, condescending attitude toward the Catholic Church with a disdainful disregard for established truths of historical events and personages, art history, and theology which I find remarkable even in our times (I am not a Roman Catholic, incidentally). Miesel and Olson charitably and painstakingly present the facts and bring the errors and omissions to light. In doing so, they do serious readers and the culture at large a great service. Three cheers!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know the truth about early Christianity and a very clear picture about the Catholic Church. God Bless the authors :):):)