History Decoded

June 10, 2013
Newcomers and longtime fans of Meltzer’s popular TV show, Decoded (whereon he and a trio of experts investigate the veracity of various myths and legends), will relish this print companion, comprising summaries of 10 of the most intriguing topics pursued on the show, including the fate of John Wilkes Booth, UFOs in Area 51, Leonardo Da Vinci’s apocalyptic predictions, the assassination of J.F.K., and more. Mirroring the series, each chapter begins with Meltzer (The Inner Circle) posing a provocative question (e.g., “What if I told you that Fort Knox is empty?”) before leading readers through his process of interviewing experts and analyzing ancient texts and other ephemera to determine the answer—if there is one. As viewers know, the majority of his inquiries don’t have a definitive conclusion, but half the fun is getting there. Meltzer peppers each section with fascinating asides (an independent panel determined that all the shots that killed Kennedy came from the rear rather than from multiple angles) and trivia (Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier three months after the Roswell incident, something scientists had previously thought impossible) that is sure to keep readers enthralled and conspiracy theorists encouraged to continue to dig for the truth.

January 27, 2014
Adapted from his TV show of the same name, on the History channel, this book from Meltzer counts down the world’s top 10 most intriguing and controversial conspiracies. The list includes everything from the secrets of Area 51 to the contents of Fort Knox, and everyone from Adolf Hitler to Lee Harvey Oswald. Narrator Brick is, as usual, a skillful and entertaining reader. In offering up Meltzer's theories, Brick's pacing and delivery are often reminiscent of a seasoned salesman’s pitch. Even skeptical listeners will find themselves becoming conspiracy theorists after listening to this engaging audiobook. A Workman hardcover.