Talisman: Sacred Cities, Secret Faith by Graham Hancock and Robert Bauval argues that a covert, elitist cult has shaped Western history for over 2,000 years, connecting ancient Egyptian astronomer-priests, Templars, and Freemasons to modern city planning. It claims a secret, "talismanic" religion influences pivotal events like the French and American Revolutions. The book attempts to bridge the gap between ancient ritualistic knowledge and the development of modern "sacred" spaces and political power structures.