The Lost Symbol book cover

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown Summary

The Lost Symbol
Dan Brown
Thriller
Mystery
History
Overview
Key Takeaways
Author
FAQs

Overview of The Lost Symbol

Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol" plunges Langdon into Masonic secrets hidden within Washington DC. Selling over 1 million copies its first week, this controversial thriller sparked renewed fascination with Freemasonry worldwide. What ancient wisdom lies beneath America's capital? The answer will shock you.

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Key takeaways

1

When a Severed Hand Points Toward Heaven

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A tattooed hand, perfectly preserved and positioned in the center of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, points upward toward the painted gods on the dome. This isn't a scene from a horror film-it's how Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon's evening begins in Washington D.C., lured by what he believed was an urgent lecture invitation from his mentor, Peter Solomon. The hand bears mystical symbols on each finger: a crown, a star, a sun, a lantern, and a key. Langdon recognizes it immediately as the Hand of the Mysteries, an ancient invitation to sacred knowledge. The distinctive Masonic ring confirms his worst fear-this severed hand belongs to Peter himself. Within minutes, a phone call from the tattooed kidnapper, Mal'akh, makes the stakes brutally clear: decode the legendary Masonic Pyramid by midnight, or Peter Solomon dies. The clock is ticking, and Langdon holds a package he doesn't remember receiving, containing secrets he doesn't understand.

2

A City Built on Sacred Geometry

3

The Pyramid That Hides in Plain Sight

4

When Science Meets the Soul

5

The Monster Who Was Once a Son

6

The Secret That Was Never Hidden

7

The View From Above

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@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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comments
254
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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96
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4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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@Jaded_Falcon
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

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