The central tenet of the book is that humans are spirits inhabiting physical bodies. The goal of existence is spiritual evolution. We reincarnate on various planets to learn lessons; Earth is considered a "planet of sorrow" or a "prison planet" where less advanced souls are sent to mature. The ultimate goal is to ascend to higher planes of existence, eventually merging back with the "Great Spirit" (God).

Yes and no. The book has been published in multiple languages (English, French, Chinese, Russian, etc.). While official print and authorized eBook versions exist, many free PDF copies circulate online. These are often scanned versions of the original print run or user-converted files. Note: The Desmarquet family and associated foundations have occasionally requested that readers obtain official copies to support the work’s distribution, but the text itself remains widely available as a free PDF in the public domain in some regions due to its age and non-copyright renewal in certain jurisdictions.

Many readers hunt for the specifically for the timeline. The book predicts a "Great Planetary Shift" roughly 50 years from its publication. Given the 1993 revision, this puts the event window around 2043 . The text argues that Earth's magnetic poles will shift, causing crust displacement—but that a remnant of humanity will survive to begin a Golden Age.

Even if you never download the , its ideas have permeated modern alternative culture. You can hear echoes of Desmarquet’s claims in: