I have to say right off the bat that a lot of readers apparently didn't like The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. Maybe their expectations were so high after The Da Vinci Code that no author could live up to them. I don't know. For me, The Lost Symbol was a pure joy to read. I understand that people often view things differently from each other, but I'm amazed by the sheer outrage this book seems to have stirred up during the past year.Anyway, The Lost Symbol takes place in Washington, D.C. and has Paul Langdon trying to save the life of his close friend, Peter Solomon, while attempting to unravel the hidden codes of the Freemasons and the effect they had on the founding of our nation. Sounds interesting, doesn't it?When Paul Langdon is asked by an old friend/mentor to give a lecture in Washington, D.C. at the spur of the moment, Langdon agrees and flies to the nation's capital from Boston. Once he reaches the Capital building, Langdon quickly discovers something is wrong and that he's been duped by a very clever impostor who calls himself, Ma'lak. Ma'lak is a giant of man with his muscled body tattooed with archaic symbols. He's also highly intelligent, rich, and seeking the hidden portal that supposedly leads to enlightenment and is discussed in the ancient doctrines of Freemasonry. He firmly believes the portal is hidden somewhere in Washington, D.C. Ma'lak has threatened to kill Peter Solomon if Langdon doesn't assist him in locating the portal by midnight. To prove how serious he is about finding it, Ma'lak has left Peter Solomon's severed hand lying on the floor of the Capital building with clues to help Langdon along in his quest. Langdon, however, must deal with a C.I.A. section's chief, seeking to stop Ma'lak in achieving his goal, believing the results will tear the country apart. Langdon doesn't know what to think because all is not what it seems. It doesn't take Langdon long to realize he doesn't know whom to trust. With the clock ticking to the inevitable countdown, our Harvard professor races to unlock the secrets of our founding fathers and to find a portal that may exist or may not. If it does, then it will offer the answers to the ancient mysteries of mankind.At the beginning of the book, the author clearly states that the scientific research he discusses in his novel is actually being carried out today. I just recently had a debate with someone who stated The Lost Symbol was nothing but fiction and had no bases for reality. I totally disagreed with him because though I don't have a background in science, I do try to stay abreast of the current research in quantum physics, astronomy, and the understanding of the human mind in its relationship to the Universe. I've also followed many of the discoveries that have been done in the area of Noetic Sciences throughout the last twenty-five years. What's discussed in The Lost Symbol blew me away its authenticity and how it's carefully woven into the plot. Brown definitely did his research and used the scientific evidence that's out there as a basis for his fantastic novel. This is part of the reason why the book was so entertaining. Clearly, not everyone who read the novel had the same reaction as I did, but what can I say.If anyone out there has the slightest interest in man's quest to understand his place in the Universe, then check this book out for some interesting food for thought. On top of that, it's also a damn good read that has each chapter ending with a twist that literary compels the reader to go on to the next one. The Lost Symbol is certainly one of the best books I've read in the past decade, and I highly recommend it. Buy the book, read it with an open mind, and you might walk away from it like I did, saying, "Wow!"