Book helps uncover secrets of ‘Lost Symbol’

  Barnes and Noble’s lists Dan Brown’s latest sensational novel, “The Lost Symbol,” as their number one book of 2009. And I will admit, I went at midnight the day it was released to get a copy. It was a fascinating book, full of intrigue, twists and turns.
  But, Brown also included a dizzying amount of information about, among other things, the “secret” society of Freemasons that the average reader would have a hard time understanding if they weren’t familiar with the history and background of each.
  Here enters author Simon Cox. Known for his previous best-selling books “Cracking The Da Vinci Code,” and “Illuminating Angels and Demons,” Cox has written an extensive guide to all the codes and mysteries of “The Lost Symbol” with his new book, “Decoding The Lost Symbol.”
  This is the ultimate guide to all the facts, trivia and puzzling references that are found in “The Lost Symbol.” Presented in an A to Z format, Cox explains the many clues that are mentioned in the story, including the mysterious symbols and rituals of the Freemason society that figure prominently in the complex thriller. From the monuments of Washington, D.C., to the secrets of Salt Lake City and the hidden governmental enclaves in Langley, Va., Cox has determined where the facts are hidden about the Freemasons, Albert Pike, the Rosicrucians, the Noetic Society, our country’s Founding Fathers and much more.
  In his introduction, Cox says “ ‘The Lost Symbol’ is, in the end, a pretty good thriller that keeps Robert Langdon on his toes and involves some big themes and historical enigmas. However, it's the deeper, more hidden elements of the book that I believe will have the most impact over time.”
  He continues to explain, “between the lines of the novel, Dan Brown has attempted to write something akin to a hidden Hermetic text. It's a bold and ambitious undertaking, and one that I applaud him for.”
  I personally think that it is a shame that “Decoding The Lost Symbol” wasn’t released around the same time as Brown’s novel, as I think readers would have benefited greatly by having the “decoding” book to refer to as they read the story. Cox’s encyclopedic book is like a mature, very specific “Cliff Notes” for adults! And I find that, after reading Cox’s clear and understandable entries about the many clues, I am inclined to go back and reread “The Lost Symbol,” with “Decoding The Lost Symbol” close at hand.
  I’m not sure if Dan Brown is working on another Robert Langdon book, but you can be sure that if he is, Simon Cox is busy getting his research together for another whirlwind of explanations and history that will make reading both books an extremely enjoyable undertaking.