Erich von Däniken

Born in Switzerland on 14 April 1935, Däniken spent part of his early career in prison for fraud and embezzlement — he wrote one of his books behind bars. In 1968 he published Chariots of the Gods?, which became a global bestseller by arguing that extraterrestrials had visited early civilizations and shaped human history. The hypothesis, labeled pseudoscience and pseudoarchaeology by virtually all scientists and academics, made him the leading voice of the "paleo-contact" movement. He went on to co-found the Archaeology, Astronautics and SETI Research Association and designed Mystery Park, a t…