The Craft: How the Freemasons Made the Modern World

Good book, insightful for us novice non-Masons, The Craft explains the conspiracy theories and Freemasonry itself. The most amazing revelation (or reminder) is how mankind fabricates bizarre lies about imaginary villains, and the mob embraces ludicrous slanders.The book’s strengths and revelations: (1) Freemasonry was a blessing of the Enlightenment, accepting Protestants, Catholics, and Jews in a time when Jews were persecuted and religious intolerance widespread. Freemasons wisely prohibited political and religious discussion. (2) The Catholic Church started the conspiracy theories, indignant that Protestant, Catholic and Jewish men socialized together. (3) Sociopath tyrants Franco, Mussolini and Hitler adopted the conspiracy theories and imprisoned and murdered Freemasons. (4) Profound irony: successful and prominent men, who practiced philanthropy, were ostracized and persecuted because this society practiced arcane secret rites. (5) Masonic luminaries, e.g., Wren, Mozart, Washington, numerous U.S. presidents. (6) Sadly, Freemasonry and other clubs are in decline, due to changes in society.Shortcomings are minor. (1) The 432 page book is overly detailed, although filled with historically important facts. (2) The author ladles dollops of 21st century political correctness in each chapter, e.g., author disapproves of Freemasons restricting membership to males in 1682 London. (3) Chatty, first-person style was a bit distracting to this Baby-Boomer, but probably pleasing to Millennials.

Purchased this book for my husband who was thrilled to get it and enjoying reading it even more.

I loved this book! I was curious about some references to the freemasons in some research I was doing on ancestors from the 19th century, and this history really gave me the full story. I normally avoid anything that hints at conspiracy theories of history, and was a bit hesitant to get this book. The author is engaging, thorough, and persuasive, and makes the case for freemasonry's peculiar role in history.

Learned many interesting facts and reviewed many I already knew but it was a tedious read. I was tempted to skip some chapters but didn't. The author previously wrote a book about the Italian Mafia and spent an inordinate amount of time on the Mafia's infiltration of some Lodges.

this book is a highly readable, sweeping account of the author’s view of the history & development of Freemasonry throughout the world; if you have no knowledge of the Craft, you’ll be enlightened & enthralled; however, if you know parts of the story, you’ll be more than a little concerned to find major inaccuracies, & you’ll wonder how many more inaccuracies unknown to you are contained within these (almost 500) pages; if you have researched extensively, you’ll be shocked at some of the author’s conclusions & you’ll no doubt disagree with more than a few of them; this work was a formidable undertaking & it is to be expected that small errors would creep into a book of such wide scope, but the author’s personal biases & sarcasm are painfully evident, they’re not history, & it’s just popular writing for the masses; forewarned is forearmed: this is a popular history filled with the author’s strong biases & sometimes unfounded conclusions

Finally an accessible book about Freemasonry written by an historian, well researched, and unbiased. It's extremely readable and every bit of it is interesting. This is not a sensationalist book that tries to titillate with silly conspiracy theories, but rather describes the major events in masonry and anti-masonry across the centuries from a neutral, often witty, and disinterested vantage. You will learn something new here. Read it for a fascinating history of Prince Hall Masonry alone! Highly recommended.

I am a retired US Navy Senior Chief, who was raised to Master Mason in 1992. I am a Masonic Lodge Past Master, Endowed Scottish Rite Mason, member of three Masonic Lodges in separate jurisdictions (GLTX, GLMA, GLE), and have read numerous books on Freemasonry. Truthfully, I learned more about historical Masonry from this book than from all the other Masonic activities, Brethren and books I have had the pleasure of knowing in my 28+ years of Masonry. And you will, too....

It was wonderful to see this collection of Masonic History portrayed together by such a capable author. When seen together, you see a picture of Freemasonry that one doesn’t get from Masonic authors out to capture just the mystique and glamour of the institution.

Anyone interested in reading all about Masonry is well advised to buy this book. It is an accurate depiction of the basic beliefs and activities of Masons in Lodges. It captures the essential innocence, usefulness and even banality of Masonic doctrines. Masonry wraps in secrets the morality that we all ought to practice and sometimes don't. I also found it to be informative regarding the various schools, offshoots, schisms and branches of anf from Masonry. Altogether first rate if the subject interests you at all.

a lot of the facts are being put out

Very good quality

Great history. Pretty balanced account. Histories of Masonry in Italy and Spain particularly fascinating. Want to read more on this subject

So I bought this last night based on a post and comments I’d seen online.I overlooked the authors claims of Freemasonry being “founded in 1717” 🤦‍♂️ particularly from a book with claims of this stature. I even overlooked the early comment where he stated “I am not at all religious” as well as his insistent use of the term “we” when discussing non-masons.There is of course no requirement for a Masonic historian to actually be a Freemason himself albeit I feel the author in several parts seems to speak with an authority that he clearly does not have on the inner workings of a Lodge and “The Craft” and the early chapters read like the author has some sort of grievance with Freemasonry in my opinion, albeit he never actually says so.Not knowing much about John Custous I found the first chapter quite interesting, and wasn’t particularly heavy or difficult to read.Sadly however I was brought down to earth with a bump in Chapter 2 with what is nothing more than a cheap attempt at exposure, and rehashing a lot of the nonsense seen elsewhere.On to Chapter 3 this is where, in my opinion, the authors lack of knowledge and understanding comes to light. At the risk of sounding like I’m protesting for Scottish independence, the author clearly has little concept of Britain and the differences in Scotland and England both culturally and Masonically especially in the late 16th and 17th century.Whilst the author may be very knowledgeable in some areas and the book will undoubtedly have several interesting things about Freemasonry that I didn’t know, the inaccuracies, assumptions and guesswork in this chapter alone have made me close it at this early stage and probably not return to it.My recommendation to anyone thinking about this one would be to look elsewhere, there are many books out there well researched, well written and by authors with authority on the subject at hand.