Listen free for 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Chariots of the Gods cover art

Chariots of the Gods

Written by: Erich von Däniken
Narrated by: William Dufris
Try for $0.00

$14.95 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $25.00

Buy Now for $25.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

Erich von Däniken's Chariots of the Gods is a work of monumental importance---the first book to introduce the shocking theory that ancient Earth was visited by aliens. This world-famous best seller has withstood the test of time, inspiring countless books and films, including the author's own popular sequel, The Eye of the Sphinx. But here is where it all began---von Däniken's startling theories of our earliest encounters with alien worlds, based upon his lifelong studies of ancient ruins, lost cities, potential spaceports, and a myriad of hard scientific facts that point to extraterrestrial intervention in human history. Most incredible of all, however, is von Däniken's theory that we ourselves are the descendents of these galactic pioneers---and the archaeological discoveries that prove it:

  • An alien astronaut preserved in a pyramid
  • Thousand-year-old spaceflight navigation charts
  • Computer astronomy from Incan and Egyptian ruins
  • A map of the land beneath the ice cap of Antarctica
  • A giant spaceport preserved in the Andes
©1968 Erich von Daniken (P)2011 Tantor

What listeners say about Chariots of the Gods

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    71
  • 4 Stars
    20
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    48
  • 4 Stars
    24
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    58
  • 4 Stars
    17
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

The Book That Started the Conjecture

This book is pretty dated - there is much more evidence uncovered by investigators inspired by von Däniken (watch 'Ancient Aliens' for examples). His initial "crazy" quasi-archeological theorizing was merely the first.. (courageously published in 1968). Subsequent criticism of his methods (AND theories) is surely warranted - von Däniken is no scientist - but the outside-the-box thinking is encouraging and triumphantly "human". The book is clearly written (easy to follow) and introduces truly intriguing ideas. There are real flaws (the chapter on the development of the Space Program doesn't fit, for example) but most of the book is well-planned.
I'm a skeptic (I think this stuff is nonsense), but it's undeniably thought-provoking and the ideas are fun to contemplate. I'm convinced that giving consideration to the craziest-sounding alternative viewpoints is part of developing Critical Appraisal skills. For that reason (and for the undeniably entertaining aspects), I can definitely recommend this genre-establishing book.

The weakest feature of the recording is the use of William Dufris as the reader. He does a professional job (reading clearly and with evident interest), but his pacing is notably off (I sped the recording to 1.20X on the app to good effect). Additionally, I am thankful there is no dialogue in the book - I suspect Dufris would not be good (in fact I *cringe* at the thought).

Make use of an open mind and enjoy this clear and relatively well-written pseudoscientific first foray into the idea that Earth was visited/instructed/seeded from outer space. The author doesn't fully address the hypothetical ancestor race (e.g. the 'Annunaki') and doesn't discuss the incredibly interesting theories on 'Panspermia', but this novel started it all - and is a great place to start if you're interested. Worth the Credit.

TO THE PRODUCERS: This product would be vastly improved with the inclusion of a PDF with the accompanying photographs that are in the paper copy of the book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Aryan race vibes

Author called Indians creatures. Makes it seem like he himself is not human but more alien than others. Sounds like what the Germans were trying to do with a new religion where aryans were more “son of god” or alien than the rest of the world.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great.

Short and to the point.

Narrator brings an appropriate tone to a story about proposed space-time travelling beings.

A lot of this book seems to be proved correct over time and increasingly so. Bizarre.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

loved it

loved it. well narrated, good logical sequence. a real eye opener on the possible existence of aliens or our predecessors.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

love it

It's one of the best I've ever listened to. the understanding of what's out there has always fascinated me, and this book has made it much clearer

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really interesting

Not sure I believe this stuff....but it sure is interesting! The narrator's voice was excellent too. I read Chariots of the Gods when it first came out in the 60's - and to listen to it now took me back to my youth. Bravo!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

awesome book

well written amazing read. highly recommend this book. found interesting and will put together.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Great research and make all the part fit with each other.
It open my eyes.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!