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Rating: 
Summary: A Good Alternative
Review: The first reviewer of this book states that the work is too short and glosses over many things. This is true. It is also true that I, too, agree that the author's attempt to conceal his identity is "annoying". There is also a section towards the middle of the book, which goes into a lengthy description of the history and development of alphabets and writing. It comes off more like filler than necessary material. And, lastly Herr has a potentially debatable section on the magical use of barn (i.e., "hex") signs. There has been little scholarly agreement on just *what* these signs are for. Some Dutchmen have said that they are "just for nice" (decoration).However, with these objections aside, one cannot go wrong with this book. It is a valuable alternative and remedy to works such as "Silver Ravenwolf's" (i.e., Jenine Trayer's) work "American Folk Magic", which is a re-release of her previous book "Hexcraft". Herr's book is as close to the straight stuff as one will come without learning from a real powwow or hexenmeister. Herr does the subject justice by keeping the practice firmly within its cultural and spiritual roots. Yes, this is magic(not "magick"). But, this is also *Christian* work: because Jesus Christ is, indeed, the true foundation of all "hex" work for the real powwow practitioner. This book is a good starting place for one who has no idea what real hex work is like, but would like to find out. It gives a very good starting place, and provides an adequate bibliography for those who wish to dig into the subject further. I highly recommend that those interested in powwow purchase this work in addition to Lee R. Gandee's "Strange Experience". Also, add to the collection: Hohman's "Long Lost Friend", Albertus Magnus' "Egyptian Secrets", and "The Sixth & Seventh Books of Moses".
Rating: 
Summary: informative
Review: This was an interesting book and well-written though not with the depth I would have liked. It also states in the beginning that 'Karl Herr' is a pen named for "a well-known writer on the subjects of magic and spells". Jolly. So what is his better-known name so we may judge this book in context, and how much of the claim to be a third generation hexmeister is true and how much is piffle??? I found this coyness annoying. Who are you Mister Herr?? What other books have you written, under what name? How can we buy them if we do not know your other name/s?My other quibble is he does not explain precisely how books like Pow-Wow or the 6th and 7th Books of Moses are used in hexwork. He also glosses over a number of customs I would like to learn more about. If one is going to write on a subject one can at least be thorough. This is not a long book. There was plenty of room, surely, for more depth and range, presuming the author actually does have the expertise he claims.Those caveats aside, this is an interesting, informative and well-written book on a subject on which very few books are available and I would recommend it to anyone with nn interest in the subject.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Alternative
Review: This was an interesting book and well-written though not with the depth I would have liked. It also states in the beginning that 'Karl Herr' is a pen named for "a well-known writer on the subjects of magic and spells". Jolly. So what is his better-known name so we may judge this book in context, and how much of the claim to be a third generation hexmeister is true and how much is piffle??? I found this coyness annoying. Who are you Mister Herr?? What other books have you written, under what name? How can we buy them if we do not know your other name/s?My other quibble is he does not explain precisely how books like Pow-Wow or the 6th and 7th Books of Moses are used in hexwork. He also glosses over a number of customs I would like to learn more about. If one is going to write on a subject one can at least be thorough. This is not a long book. There was plenty of room, surely, for more depth and range, presuming the author actually does have the expertise he claims.Those caveats aside, this is an interesting, informative and well-written book on a subject on which very few books are available and I would recommend it to anyone with nn interest in the subject.
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