Chariots of the Gods: 50th Anniversary Edition Cover
Podcast Mentions

Chariots of the Gods 50th Anniversary Edition

Erich Von Daniken

AS SEEN ON ANCIENT ALIENS • Now in a beautiful 50th anniversary edition with a new foreword and afterword by the author, this is the Immediately recognized as a work of monumental importance,

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The Joe Rogan Experience

Podcast

The Joe Rogan Experience

The book was brought up in three episodes, where it was referenced as a classic example of ancient‑alien speculation. Peter Thiel mentioned it while discussing its claim that extraterrestrials built the pyramids, and the hosts noted it as a staple in their household and discussed its controversial interpretations of Mayan and Aztec imagery. Overall, the podcast treated it as an interesting but not strongly endorsed work.

Episode: #2190 - Peter Thiel

This book, published in 1968, argued that ancient structures like the pyramids were built by extraterrestrial visitors.

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The uh, the guy who did "Chariots of the Gods?"

Episode: #1252 - Dave Foley & Paul Greenberg

The book was mentioned as a staple in the speaker's house and was discussed with the author, Erich von Dniken, who was showing slides of what the book is about.

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He's the guy who wrote "Chariots of the Gods?"

Oh God, yeah, yeah. In his 80s now.

Staple book in our house.

And he was showing us slides.

What's the real story there, I was wondering.

Episode: #1251 - Tim Dillon

It was described as a book about ancient aliens, and the most compelling evidence was said to be a tablet in Palenque, which showed an Aztec or Mayan guy manipulating some knobs, representing technology from aliens.

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He's the author of Charity of the Gods.

The one of the Aztec guy, I guess Aztec or mine. I guess the mine guy. It's mine.

He's laying back. It looks like in some sort of a throne with fire below him and he's manipulating these knobs and that means that aliens landed and seated them with technology.

Episode: #2464 - Priyanka Chopra Jonas

They referenced the book while discussing ancient astronaut theories, noting its influence on popular speculation about extraterrestrials shaping early human civilization.

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I think you should check out Chariots of the Gods--it sparked a lot of the ideas about ancient astronauts and how they might have influenced early human technology.

So Supernatural

Podcast

So Supernatural

It posited that certain monuments and artifacts from ancient cultures could not have been produced without alien intervention, using examples such as the Egyptian pyramids and the Nazca Lines. The book was widely criticized by historians and experts but was a bestseller, launching the 'ancient aliens' industry.

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In practically every religion around the world there are references to alien visitors or spaceships.

— Episode: ALIEN: Ancient Aliens

Episode: ALIEN: Ancient Aliens

It posited that certain monuments and artifacts from ancient cultures could not have been produced without alien intervention, using examples such as the Egyptian pyramids and the Nazca Lines. The book was widely criticized by historians and experts but was a bestseller, launching the 'ancient aliens' industry.

"

In practically every religion around the world there are references to alien visitors or spaceships.

In Hindu mythology, the gods travel around in flying vehicles which von Daniken suggests are actually spaceships.

The book of Ezekiel even describes what definitely sounds like a UFO in this passage. I saw a windstorm coming out of the north, an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human but each of them had four faces and four wings.

Everywhere you look it's the same iconography, the same stories of divine beings that live in the sky.

When he releases his book in 1968 it's widely criticized by historians and experts but the public goes wild. Chariots of the Gods sells 7 million copies and kickstarts the entire ancient aliens industry which to this day is thriving.

Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

Podcast

Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

It was a good read but not accurate, it was very speculative. It suggested that all the works of modern human society are broken remnants of a more evolved civilization from the stars.

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When you read this kind of stuff, you will see a narrative suggesting that all of the works of modern human society are broken remnants of a much more evolved and sophisticated civilization from the s...

— Episode: The Mystery of the Dropa Stones

Episode: The Mystery of the Dropa Stones

It was a good read but not accurate, it was very speculative. It suggested that all the works of modern human society are broken remnants of a more evolved civilization from the stars.

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When you read this kind of stuff, you will see a narrative suggesting that all of the works of modern human society are broken remnants of a much more evolved and sophisticated civilization from the stars.

When you read Chariots of the Gods, which is a good read, it is very much not accurate. It is very, in my opinion, speculative if I'm being diplomatic.

Episode: The Strange Story of Adam's Calendar

It was mentioned as an example of a book that explores the idea that extraterrestrials may have influenced ancient civilizations, including the builders of Adam's Calendar.

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This will be familiar to anybody who's read books like Chariot of the Gods by Eric von Daniken.

Episode: The Ica Stones, Part Two: Secrets Revealed

It was published in 1969 and became an international bestseller, subsequently inspiring numerous similar books that also referenced the Ica stones.

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He publishes this first in 1969. It becomes an international bestseller and a deluge of similar books hit the market right after.

Episode: The Ica Stones, Part One: A Mysterious Origin Stor...

The book, focusing on ancient astronaut theories, was referenced in relation to the Ica stones, suggesting it's a source where one might encounter information about them.

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But if you saw one of these stones, your memory would flash back to maybe a BBC documentary to maybe Eric Von Daniken's chariot of the gods question mark, which is the title.

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.