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Summary: The ultimate Thelemic resource : Crowley's Dream Come True
Review: The Big Blue Brick is Crowley's dream come true. This is the ultimate Thelemic resource guide, which contains an in-depth Introduction to the book and the full story of the creation of 'Thelema.' This compilation contains many of Crowley's most-important works and rituals, including; "Book Four" (ISBN # 0877285136)*, "Magick in Theory and Practice" (ISBN # 0486232956)*, and "The Equinox of the Gods" (ISBN # 1561840289)--events leading up to and including the creation of 'The Book of The Law.' This book also contains numerous important 'Appendices' and a million or so footnotes that were meticulously scrutinized for accuracy.* note: be careful with 'Book Four' (in which Crowley depicts a ridiculous conception of The Scourge used in Witchcraft, legitimately) & 'Magick in Theory and Practice' (esp., due to the fact that in that time period, as now, 'morality' prevented people from talking/writing about sex, but it was/is perfectly ok to talk or write about more dangerous subjects). When reading Crowley, one must often read between the lines. Crowley had a weird sense of humor about revealing 'secrets' without revealing them--when in doubt, reread the section(s) and 'Magick Without Tears' (which shows Crowley's sense of humor and proves he was 'of sound mind' at the end of his life--a typical cranky ol' Grandpa kind guy). 'Magick' is NOT light reading! This is a scholarly work that took decades to compile, and a century to be brought-together in this format. Keep in mind, purchasing this book is the equivalent of purchasing many of Crowley's books in one volume (as he originally intended)--with the added benefit of preface material, illustrations, modern research, Footnotes (!), etc. It is well-worth the price, considering the fact that all of this material is compiled in a painstaking manner, including lost material and better renditions of previous editions. However, for those who are just beginning to study Thelema, or have just begun the process of wading through Crowley's works (or just want to research Thelema in-general), I strongly suggest beginning with: "The Magick of Thelema: A Handbook of the Rituals of Aleister Crowley," by Lon Milo Duquette (ISBN # 0877287783). For further research about "Thelema" and "The Book of The Law," I suggest: "The Law is For All," by Aleister Crowley (ISBN # 1561840904).
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Summary: Content is great but print is hard to read
Review: This book brings together all four parts of Book ABA by Alesiter Crowley. While the effort is commendable, the result is slightly below par. I would highly recommend purchasing the books in separate editions. Save you eyesight for magick.
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Summary: Crowley's Magick, available in one volume again
Review: This book has been the elusive guide to Magick, and unless you were lucky enough to be able to get the full edition from a collector, you had to search endlessly jigsawing such books as The Equinox of the Gods, Book Four, and Magick in Theory and Practice. Now your Crowleyana can be complete with this edition of Magick. The Beast is Dead, Long Live The Beast!
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Summary: Excellent for fans of Crowley
Review: This book is a VERY good primer and sourcebook for the Thelemic religion and lifestyle. I picked up this book and read it over the course of a weekend. For those who have never read anything by Crowley or who are just getting into Occult Philosophy, it can be a challenge. Crowley's writing style is a little different than what most people are used to. Also, if you've ever only read books by Silver Ravenwolf (et al) then you might not like the style of Crowley's magick... but it is the foundation of ALL modern magickal practice.
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Summary: the bible of the spiritual pretenders
Review: This book is certainly a classic of sorts; Crowley has spawned a stagnant pond full of imitators, but none will ever match his wit, intelligence, originality and genius for prose writing. By all means, if you're someone who needs a self-image as a person who is seeking enlightenment of some kind but wants to look cool and dangerous doing it, buy this inspired drivel and convince yourself it works, assuming you're one of the few actually dull enough to read it all. Or to try and carry any of this stuff out. The book's primary purpose, of course, is to look good on your bookshelf and impress your friends, if you have any, with what amazing arcane knowledge you have. And yes, you might even get high and play these idiotic Golden Dawn dress-up games and convince yourself you're actually accomplishing something. Of course, if your're interested in real transformation, not drugs, buggery and egomaniacal pretense--Crowley's, and most of his admirers', reasons for existence--then for god's sake stop seeking anything and spend the money you could waste on this thing on some books on Zen or Krishnamurti (yes, the one the arch-jealous Crowley hurled racist insults at) when you need to exercise the verbal parts of your brain. Anyway, this volume will look even more cool and mysterious if you let it gather some dust.
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Summary: The Most Concentrated Book on Magick. Indispensable!
Review: This is definitely one of Crowley's best work on the basic mechanism of magick, in this volume, he gave a very detailed treatment on the subject. If there is anything a serious student must have, is this. Definitely worth its weight in gold!The best of the best! this book will take you far on the magickal path
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Summary: Crowleymania Exalta!!!
Review: This is one of the best Crowley books I have ever seen. "The Book of the Law" is here in a very fine reproduction from the original, (almost better than "The Book of the Law" book). This is a hard cover book. Anyone who has ever read "Book 4",(which is a paper back book with only parts 1&2 of this masterpiece, {although a very good book to have in your collection of Crowley material}) will want to have this very high quality book which includes these parts, ("1&2"). This book also has some very fine, and I might say "rare", photos, including one of "Mary Crowley" (Aleister's Wife, she is very pretty!!!), which you will cherish. You can hide this book in your closet, if you like, but it really belongs on your coffee table, next to your "sixteen pound" Bible! (or you can hide it under your Alter in your "baggi",{a Voodoo suitcase, box, etc,} if you like.) I would recommend this book to anyone intersted in Aleister Crowley, (the original AC of AC/DC), whether a novice in the "occult" or someone who collects occult "paraphenelia" and "books" of magick. This is one of those books you are "Supposed To Have"!!! A must for any Crowleyholic!! This injection will do you better than just the average Crowley "fix". This is the Crowleymania "Capstone"! (The Eye in the Triangle,.the completion of your own personal triangle or "pyramid", of power!) Crowleymania Exalta! (This is the "Blood and Pulp" from a nail!), This is Aleister Crowley!!! Aleister Exclesia, (of course). Long Live Aleister Crowley, the "Beast", "666", the Nature of Charagma!!!
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Summary: A must for all New Age occult practitioners.
Review: This is the one "Book" that all Occultists should have in their libraries. This is the encyclopedia of magick that others have used as the basis for most major New Age trends. It explores modern magick from three different aspects; Western Yoga, Western Ceremonial Magick, and the New Aeon as expressed in the Book of the Law.
If you are looking for one book that will take you from the basics to the highest of magickal heights, this is it. I cannot stress it's value enough
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Summary: If you get only one Crowley book, this is the one
Review: This text is heralded as Crowley's Magnum Opus. And with good cause. If you only get one book by the Beast, this should be it. In it is his complete system of Magick and Thelema. This work, as previous reviewers have indicated, contains in one volume all the texts that are essential to Crowley's system. I found it much more convenient to get the single volume as opposed to raking through used books section of a dozen or so occult bookshops. It is, admittedly, hard to read straight through, but it is worth the effort. This book does for Thelema much of what Regarde's "The Golden Dawn" does for that occult system.
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Summary: BUY IT!
Review: You could save money by buying cheaper versions available. However, there are numerous reasons not to do this. 1. There are excellent new materials included in this revised edition unavailable elsewhere. 2. This is rather authoritative edition with, for example, an exhaustive index and bibliography: this edition therefore is that much more SCHOLARLY. 3. Isn't it convenient to have it all in one book, rather than having to consult 3 or 4 different volumes? I certainly do not agree with everything HB says in his intro or in his end notes. However, much of his comment is illuminating and worth the price of admission. I only wish the Liber AL version included was in red ink and black. ;) The second edition of 1998 (v. the first of late 1994) is enlarged and includes more readable print with larger typeface, and includes extra papers so I am going to fork over another 50-60 bucks for the second revised edition, just for that! The prince-priest the Beast made me do it! reguli
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