Christopher Hodapp is a 33° Freemason, a Masonic Knight Templar, and a Past Master of two Masonic lodges. His first book, Freemasons For Dummies is the world's most popular modern guide to the ancient, accepted fraternity of Freemasonry.  His second book, Solomon's Builders: Freemasons, Founding Fathers and the Secrets of Washington DC is the best-selling guide to the influence of Freemasonry on the founding of America and the building of  the nation's capitol. The Templar Code For Dummies traces the rise and fall of the medieval Knights Templar, the tales of their exploits and legends, the modern organizations claiming their heritage, as well as the connections between the Order and Dan Brown's version in The Da Vinci Code. Released in 2007, it was co-written with Alice Von Kannon. Conspiracy Theories & Secret Societies For Dummies, written with co-author Alice Von Kannon, was released in 2008, and explores the wide world of conspiracism and secretive groups—from the Freemasons, Mafia, and Ku Klux Klan to the Illuminati, Council on Foreign Relations and the Bohemian Grove. From UFOs, 9/11 Truthers and COINTELPRO to presidential assassinations, CIA experiments and Elvis sightings. His newest book, Deciphering The Lost Symbol, a guide to Dan Brown's novel, was published in 2010 by Ulysses Press. It traces the footsteps of the fictional Robert Langdon to explore the symbolism, rituals, art, architecture and very real Washington, D.C. locations in Brown's The Lost Symbol. He has written for the Indiana Freemason Magazine, Masonic Magazine,Templar History Magazine, Indianapolis Monthly, and the the Scottish Rite Journal, and was a humor columnist for the Texas-based Living Natural First magazine. In 2008, he became the editor of The Journal of The Masonic Society. Chris is an alumnus of Brebeuf Jesuit High School in Indianapolis. He has attended Indiana University, the University of Southern California, Los Angeles Valley College, California State University at Northridge, and Indiana/Purdue University at Indianapolis. He spent more than 20 years as a commercial filmmaker, and his voice has appeared in numerous  commercials and programs. In 2010, he  and Von Kannon developed episodes for the History Channel series, "Brad Meltzer's Decoded." In front of the camera, Chris has appeared on the History Channel ("Secrets of the Founding Fathers") and the Discovery Channel ("Hunting The Lost Symbol"), and numerous radio programs speaking on the subjects of Freemasons, Knights Templar, conspiracy theories and secret societies. A popular speaker, he has traveled extensively across the US, Canada and Europe addressing scores of groups. In 2011, he became a candidate for the Indianapolis City/County Council on the Libertarian ticket. Chris and his wife Alice live in Indianapolis, Indiana with their very French poodle, Wiley.  

Hodapp has received the Grand Master of Indiana's Award for distinguished service in bringing the Masonic Angel Fund program to Indiana in 2003; the President's Award from the Philalethes Society in 2003; the Distinguished Service Medal from the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of Indiana in 2006; and the Duane E. Anderson Excellence in Masonic Education Award from the Grand Lodge of Minnesota in 2006. In 2010, he was made a Knight Commander of the Temple by the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the USA. In 2010 he was nominated as a 33rd degree Mason by the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.