Some thoughts on the book "The Da Vinci Code"

I read the book a few months ago and it showed me again how important it is to think critically and not just take everything as fact which comes to us nicely packaged.

This is not only true for the very obvious case of advertising which we are inundated with today, but also for books which we read.

Right at the start, the DaVinci code makes the claim to be based on historically accurate background information. One of the main pieces of information which the book is based on is the existence of the Priory of Sion, a secret organisation which has existed for several centuries.

However, if you dome some serious research into that topic you will find that this claim is totally made up. Without the Priory of Sion being a real organisation as claimed by Dan Brown, the author, the book loses its backbone. It is an exciting fiction novel but its not more than that.

It appears obvious that the author had a strong incentive to claim his fiction as actual fact to increase the sales of the book.

What other examples can you think of where similar things happen? And what can you do to make sure you are not fooled?