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Rating: 
Summary: The Druid Renaissance
Review: I edited this book under its original title 'The Druid Renaissance' in 1996.
When the publisher decided to reissue it last year I asked them to retain the original title, but they insisted on a new title.
Some contributors made minor changes to their contributions and updated their Resources or Contacts sections.
Tom Cowan contributed an inspiring preface for the new edition.
I am very sorry that the title change has resulted in a previous reviewer buying virtually the same book twice. Only buy this book if you don't have a copy of 'The Druid Renaissance' already!
If - however - this book is new for you, I can strongly recommend it: the contributions are broad-ranging and inspiring and for this reason I have given it 5 stars.
A friend in England wrote the following review of it:Book Review - The Rebirth of Druidry ed by Philip Carr-Gomm pub Thorsons 2003 This is actually 'The Druid Renaissance' published under a new name, with an arresting new cover and a new Preface by Tom Cowan, author of 'Fire in the Head.' Actually it's the only book I know that has a Preface, a Forward and an Introduction, all by worthy authors in the field so it can't be bad. If you have TDR then don't buy it but if you don't then seriously consider this Reinaissance rebirth as there is a wealth of information and a diversity of approaches about modern day Druidry enclosed within its covers.
The authors are exclusively people who are working and teaching in the tradition today, some are familiar names on the spines of book covers, some are more familiar in the context of active druidry, many are both. The book is divided into several Sections 'The Call of the Land' ; 'The Call of the Druid' ; 'The Re-Enchantment' ; 'Druid Ceremony' and 'Finding Our Roots - Finding our Future'. Contributors in order of their appearance in the book are Tom Cowan; Philip Carr-Gomm; Professor Ronald Hutton; Erynn Rowan Laurie; Philip Shallcrass; Isaac Bonewits; Steve Wilson; Dr Michel Raoult; Frank MacEowen; Cairistiona Worthington; Louise Larkins Bradford; Chris Turner; Robert Mills; Madeleine Johnson; Dr Graham Harvey; Caitlin Matthews; Dr Gordon Strachan; Dr Christina Oakley and Mara Freeman.
Their topics cover Druid Revival, Herbs, Stars, Bardism, Druid Ceremony, Sacred Calendars; Jesus in Glastonbury; Celtic Shamanism; the Mabon myth; Druids and Witches, Healing and Ecology. Such richness seems to me to answer the triad for a Modern Druid which the editor Philip Carr-Gomm suggested in his connecting link to section V 'The three tasks of a Druid
to live fully in the present;
to honour tradition and the ancestors;
to hear the voice of tomorrow. This book is not just an introduction to the philosophy and practice of druidry, it is more a reference for living the tradition. Maddy Johnson
Rating: 
Summary: same book, new cover...
Review: Warning- if you already own 'The Druid Renaissance' by this same author, I don't think you need this book. This book is a remake of that book. When I first got this book, I thought the chapter titles looked familiar. I went to my bookshelf and pulled out 'The Druid Renaissance' , and yes, it's basically the same book. The chapter pages don't exactly add up, so maybe a page or two of new info was added, but basically it's the same book! Save your money if you already own the first one.
The info is good, but I'm only giving it one star because it was not listed as a remake of The Druid Renaissance. If I had known, I would have saved my money.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Collection of Essays
Review: Yes this book is an updated version of The Druid Renaissance. So yes IF you already own that book, you don't need this one. However IF like me you didn't own the original and wish to learn more about what it means to be a Druid, by all means buy this one. This book was recommended to me by a couple of my friends and I found it to be an excellent read. I did find at times the material to be a bit "over my head," but this I find is more to all the information covered in the book.
There were a few specific essays I enjoyed, such as The Irish Bardic Tradition (outlining the origin of bards and how they continued to exist long after the Druids supposedly were "converted" to Christianity), The Sacred Calendar and The Wheel of Change (essays discussing various Druid holidays), and the Oakley essay describing the "history" of Druids and witches. I find it interesting how people draw parallels between Druidry and Wicca, and yet they appear to be quite a bit different in the ways each group practices their religion.
Mr Carr-Gomm did a wonderful job in compiling the original work and with this new version.
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