Riley Poole's Book of Secrets: History for National Treasure Hunters
“Someone did something in history and had fun. Great. Wonderful.”
This is how National Treasure (2004) fan-favorite character Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) feels about oft-repeated stories of the distant past: dismissive and uninspired. Poole clearly gravitates toward lesser-known tales from history—the kind typically missing from high school classrooms.
In this book, franchise expert Aubrey Paris explores historical mysteries capable of piquing the interest of Poole and his fellow enthusiasts of myths that could be true. Paris pairs well-publicized tales (Roanoke colony, Salem witches) with lesser-known events (Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, Blair House) and surprising real-world topics plucked straight from the films’ scripts (Templar treasure, President’s secret book), offering the latest historical interpretations while examining myriad questions that inevitably remain. The resulting unofficial, unauthorized National Treasure history book will capture the imaginations of even the most skeptical students of the past—including Riley Poole himself—while inviting an enticing thought: How might Poole’s niche knowledge of the unexplained contribute to National Treasure’s future storylines?
Don't miss a thought-provoking foreword by National Treasure director and producer Jon Turteltaub!
COMING MAY 2026
National Treasure Hunt: One Step Short of Crazy
“I’m going to steal the Declaration of Independence.” These eight treasonous words delivered with intense earnestness by Nicolas Cage would launch a pop culture phenomenon in National Treasure (2004) and its sequel, National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets (2007). Years after the films were box office hits, quotes and sentiments from the two-part franchise are frequently referenced in response to both the most joyous and most scathing moments in recent history. But even so, the films have been heavily criticized for purportedly “crazy” storylines, forcing National Treasure enthusiasts to defend their fandom against those who think it merely a guilty pleasure.
But what if the majority of National Treasure’s plot points were inspired by real figures and events, its heists drew upon actual techniques in science and technology, and production choices were made with the hope that viewers would better remember both triumphs and failures of history? In this book, franchise experts and hosts of the National Treasure Hunt podcast Aubrey Paris and Emily Black set the record straight, taking a scene-by-scene approach to prove that National Treasure, like protagonist Benjamin Franklin Gates, is not crazy, but rather one step short. Their analyses unearth lesser-known stories from history while considering the ethics of character decisions, assessing comparisons to similar film franchises, interpreting key deleted scenes, and revealing behind-the-scenes secrets from filming. The result is a more complete understanding of the franchise, one that might just turn National Treasure skeptics into begrudging admirers. In the end, don’t we all want to know what’s on page 47? (ISBN: 9781959748007)
NOW AVAILABLE