Rating: 
Summary: The Tragedy of the Beast
Review: (actually, 31/2 stars) The story of Mr. Crowley is one of the most poinant tragedies I've ever come across. Niechze's descent into madness is the only adequate paralell I know of. Madness would have been a kinder punishment for the Beast. He had to live out his life in total awareness of his pain. A great magus he was, but his Vision was to big for the small Victorian ego it inhabited. Crowley was unable to overcome his arisitcratic training, and thus his revelation became as poison unto him. In a Just-the-facts biography, Lawrence Sutin chronicles the Tragedy of the Beast. The work is well done, doing its best to avoid rumor and vitriol condemnation. Much of the information comes from Crowley's own diaries and the words of the people who knew him. I also appriciated the fact that Sutin does not end with any sort of Asopian Moral to the Story. The tale provides its own moral as the reader interprets it. There are a few stylistic problems, however, marr what is otherwise a wonderful book. First, Sutin throws around terms like Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram without suspecting that some readers might not know what he's talking about. Throughout, he assumes a primer knowledge of the rites of Ceremonial Magick that the reader may not posees. Also, his endnotes are confusing and referance to them hampers the flow of reading. I recomend this book for any who want to understand the Master Therion. It is a tragedy on par with Promethius.
Rating: 
Summary: "insighting" an intellectual riot
Review: an intelligent, revealing probe into the madness and genius of Crowley. Sutin paints a vivid picture filled with insights not found in other sources. The author weaves together a web of intriguing, thoughtful and penetrating ideas that make for amusing and satisfying reading.To take on such an "overly written-about" subject and pull it off with flair requires a mighty pen indeed. Sutin exceeds all expectations in this powerful, eloquent work.
Rating: 
Summary: how'd he do that?
Review: how do you take the fascinating life of a fascinating man, one of the most colorful figures of the entire 20th century and reduce it to a tediously boring academic yawn fest? i dunno, but Sutin sure does. ask him.
Rating: 
Summary: Crowley: The Man, the Legend, the Enigma
Review: I needed to do some research on Crowley and looked over the books written about his life. After seeing what was out there, I decided that "Do What Thou Wilt" was the best offering there was, and so I chose it. Overall, the book seems to be a very fair account about one of the most repulsive men to have ever walked the earth. The life of Crowley certainly fulfilled his Law of Thelema: Do What Thou Wilt. He did what he preached, and I must say Sutin shows the pathetic ending of a life lived by someone who did everything for himself. Crowley had everything most people dream about: endless sex (with both countless women and men), drugs, travel, adventure...you name it, he did it. Yet how did his life end? Bankrupt. Lonely. Strung out. I suppose Crowley could be the poster child for why atheism and "live for the gusto because you only go around once" occultism just doesn't work, regardless of your outlook on God and religion.
Overall, the book was straightforward as it chronologically covers the life of the Beast. In many places, however, the book drags, with perhaps too many exact details of names, places, and events. (For example, dozens and dozens of people whom Crowley has sexual relationships are named; in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the list topped 100!) The book contains more than 400 pages, and the amount of detail made it feel in some places like you were stuck in a quagmire with no chance of freedom. But, those were the places where I skimmed until I came to something more interesting. I suppose some would consider so many exact details to be a positive trait, but for me, there were too many places where I yawned. I think the book could have been half the size if excessive details had been condensed.
Overall, if you want a look at Crowley, Sutin must be considered the authority. If you want to look closer at how not to live, this book is recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal biography of a very tricky subject
Review: If you've never read ANYTHING about Crowley (I hadn't), this is the place to start. This biography leaves out no detail, no matter how small. This book puts Crowley under a microscope with unstinting clarity that is completely balanced - the biographer gives Crowley credit where credit is due but never tries to whitewash the mess that the man made of his life (and of other's lives). Crowley's innovations are not easy ones to understand, and his impact is complex. Mr. Sutin gets it just right. If you're the type of person who wants a biography that draws the big picture by supplying all the minute details (journal entries, letters, receipts, financial records, decorating schemes, sexual partners, travel plans, etc), this is the Crowley book for you. Really, my only complaint is that there weren't more photos. However, for all I know, there are few existing photos, given the time in which Crowley lived. This book inspired me to read more by and about Crowley, which is the best praise a biography can be given.
Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal biography of a very tricky subject
Review: If you've never read ANYTHING about Crowley (I hadn't), this is the place to start. This biography leaves out no detail, no matter how small. This book puts Crowley under a microscope with unstinting clarity that is completely balanced - the biographer gives Crowley credit where credit is due but never tries to whitewash the mess that the man made of his life (and of other's lives). Crowley's innovations are not easy ones to understand, and his impact is complex. Mr. Sutin gets it just right. If you're the type of person who wants a biography that draws the big picture by supplying all the minute details (journal entries, letters, receipts, financial records, decorating schemes, sexual partners, travel plans, etc), this is the Crowley book for you. Really, my only complaint is that there weren't more photos. However, for all I know, there are few existing photos, given the time in which Crowley lived. This book inspired me to read more by and about Crowley, which is the best praise a biography can be given.
Rating:
Summary: Demystifying Crowley
Review: In the introduction to his exemplary biography of A. Crowley ("The Great Beast", "The Wickedest Man in the World") Lawrence Sutin states that, in order to justify their labors, biographers are fond of claiming that their subjects are misunderstood, and that in the case of Crowley one is compelled to conclude that he has been as greatly misunderstood as any biographer could hope for. A decade or so in the writing, Mr. Sutin's book does a great deal to clear up the misapprehensions and confusion, to penetrate the legends and lies which not only surround the memory and living legacy of Crowley but swirled about him in life as well. Meticulously researched and written with a keen insight into the basic tenets underlying not only Crowley's thought but all of the philosophical and magical traditions into which Crowley delved and built upon, "Do What Thou Wilt" paints an informative and (most important) objective portrait of Crowley that also happens to be a great read. The reader is taken on an intimate tour of Crowley's life that focuses upon his mountaineering, sexual and literary exploits - all of which, the last two especially, were part and parcel of his Real work, The Great Work. Crowley rightly considered the transformation of the human condition as the only worthwhile pursuit and all of his endeavors worked toward that goal. Whether or not he succeeded is a judgment the reader will have to form for his or her self. It is my opinion that Mr. Crowley might have been better served in his professed aim if he had followed the path of Buddhism - as opposed to that of ritual magic (or Magick as he would have it) taken by his former magical colleague and friend, Allan Bennet. For Buddhist practice might have helped to shrink the massive ego that, I believe, thwarted his efforts.
Rating:
Summary: Is Aleister Crowley boring? Is that possible?
Review: It's a shame that this book is so tedious, because the author knows his subject. I read Lawrence Sutin's biography of PK Dick and I was impressed, so I had high hopes for this one. But there's no structure to the story, no plot. Sutin moves from one moment of Crowley's life to the next, never making it clear if he's describing a high point, a low point, a turning point, etc. Halfway through, I promised myself I'd finish the book, sure that as Crowley's life reached the end, Sutin would bring things to a climax. But he didn't. Sutin knows the facts but didn't present them in a compelling way.
Rating:
Summary: A real life look at the Prophet of the new aeon.
Review: Sutin has written the best biography of Aleister Crowley ever written. That being said, don't expect a glowing, praise filled, "Uncle Al is a God" type biography. You won't get it and it's a good thing you won't because AC was nothing like that. Sutin approaches Crowley's life as a biographer, not a follower. That's what makes the book so good. Crowley's life was one long mess, mostly of his own making, and Sutin doesn't leave out a thing. After reading "Do What Thou Wilt" you will find yourself questioning everything you ever thought you knew about Aleister Crowley. However, you will also recognize the genius of the man, his wit, his wisdom, and penny-anti carnival shyster antics that made him both the scourge of the Victorian era, and the broken down, drug addicted, lonely old man in Post WWII England. Crowley had moments of Divine inspiration and moments of madness. Unfortunately, Crowley often couldn't tell the difference between the two.
Rating:
Summary: A real life look at the Prophet of the new aeon.
Review: Sutin has written the best biography of Aleister Crowley ever written. That being said, don't expect a glowing, praise filled, "Uncle Al is a God" type biography. You won't get it and it's a good thing you won't because AC was nothing like that. Sutin approaches Crowley's life as a biographer, not a follower. That's what makes the book so good. Crowley's life was one long mess, mostly of his own making, and Sutin doesn't leave out a thing. After reading "Do What Thou Wilt" you will find yourself questioning everything you ever thought you knew about Aleister Crowley. However, you will also recognize the genius of the man, his wit, his wisdom, and penny-anti carnival shyster antics that made him both the scourge of the Victorian era, and the broken down, drug addicted, lonely old man in Post WWII England. Crowley had moments of Divine inspiration and moments of madness. Unfortunately, Crowley often couldn't tell the difference between the two.
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