I've owned this book for several years now, and I STILL learn from it everytime I pick it up. This is NOT the right book for someone new to Aleister Crowley's writings - if you're just starting to look into Thelema and Crowley's approach to Ceremonial Magick, buy Lon Milo Duquette's "The Magick of Thelema"(recently re-issued as "The Magick of Aleister Crowley"), or Crowley's own "Magick Without Tears", a compilation of letters between Crowley and a female student regarding various subjects in magickal/spiritual development. Crowley made the mistake of assuming his readership was at least as educated as he was - well, everytime I read either his or H.P. Blavatsky's work, I am reminded how poor the modern public education system has become! This massive tome is worth every penny it costs, and more... It takes time(maybe a lifetime) to absorb, but it is absolutely worth it. Just remember this: Crowley was constrained by the prevailing laws of his time, and as such, was not always LEGALLY able to come out and just say what he wanted. Alot of things are spoken of in allegory and symbolism; and alot of the time, Crowley had his tongue planted firmly in his cheek when making certain statements. The guy had a cRaZy sense of humor!! Crowley was NOT a baby sacrificing monster - he was a misunderstood genius.

One cannot approach Thelemic magick without this book. I have editions of the various parts (Book 4, Magick in Theory and Practice) and they just don't work independently the way the whole volume does. It pulls all of the A.'.A.'. curriculum together and presents it, along with Crowley's examples and commentary, in such a way that a solo practioner might actually be able to make sense of it.

But it is not for beginners, or for light reading. If you want light reading about Thelemic magick, try Lon DuQuette or Gerald del Campo. Then come back to this book.

And if you don't accept the concept of "magick" don't bother with it.

Having read the lively debate/reviews below, I think some important points have been missed through what appear to be fairly 'knee jerk' reactions.

It should be noted that Crowley was one of the first 'Westerners' to bring the teachings of Yoga and Buddhism to the UK & USA during a time of strict formal religious discipline. He was the first to spend serious time and money investigating the mysteries of the mind and the subconscious, using drugs (then legal) and meditation, which was unheard of at that time (1900's). Just as 'The Beatles' (Crowley appears on the front cover of Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearst Club Band) and many other 'Society changing' bands experimented with mind altering drugs and alternative reality in the 1960's - he also wrote about his experiences with painful truth and applied his findings to the way we perceive existence.

Such people are rarely accepted by their social group. Anyone who breaks with convention (and he broke many) will be reviled and attract a certain amount of infamy. To disregard him entirely is wrong. To worship him is also wrong. His achievements create open debate on alternative religious belief systems - allowing people to question their own inherent faith and to explore others.

His greatest achievement is not so much 'Magick', but the fact that all spiritual belief should have the same overall goal, that of an infinite broader view of our own reality in life and death, and to attempt to achieve this without the hindrance of conditioned guilt/sin/love/hate/ego - as well as social/religious taboo's.

However, Crowley did attempt to increase his own wealth via magical practice and this failed. Crowley also wanted (at one point) to 'renounce his role as Magus' and stated he ..'could not go on with his work' due to lack of belief in his own powers, although he continued with his practice's for some time after this. But his ground breaking work in detailing Buddhism/Yoga (featured in this book) and creating open interest, and greater tolerance for, alternative belief systems is valid.

The book, like most of his output, is a product of its time. He did attempt to ritualise his beliefs and it shares the same instructional 'symbolic' style of the bible. A better read for those who have an interest in his work would be 'Do what thou wilt - A Life of Aleister Crowley' by Lawrence Sutin, also sold by Amazon. Its well written and researched - providing an objective view of his life and work.

Be prepared: The presentation can seem incredibly obscure, obtuse and allegorical... but this is an occult book after all(!) If you aren't prepared to appreciate this, and to explore deeply to get to the underlying substance, you wil certainly hate this book and get absolutely nothing from it but irritation. This isn't the latest pop Llewellyn "Celtic Love Spells" production. Crowley's work is serious, smart, original, highly relevant religious/magickal philosophy, which can be very liberating.

One further comment: The pitifully ignorant, tiresome and homophobic review several down should speak for itself.

If you want a laugh a minute, read some earlier reviews.

First, let us deal with the alternate reality some people seem to live in--Crowley did not die impoverished. Netherwood is certainly modest, but it is a reputable boarding house and is quite a nice place. It is not squalor or filth as some failed creatures seem to think.

Secondly, ad hominem arguments in general are things we thinking human beings call "illogical". Crowley spent his money foolishly--how does it follow then that Crowley can't be spiritually advanced? It simply does not. Yes, he was bad with money--a lot of people are, but what does that have to do with their religious beliefs?

Thirdly, yes where was Crowley's guardian angel? He died a disreputable old man, indeed. More or less forgotten, yes.

So what?

If I am to transcend the world the herd lives in and is ruled by, am I supposed to want the herd to admire me? Or am I going to want them to think I'm "too weird", or "insane"?

Think about it.

Now that we've gotten back to planet Earth, we can safely deal with the book itself.

Still seeped in the tradition of initiated blinds, this is a book which can sometimes be confusing. Sometimes a blind is perfectly obvious, such as the infamous chapter on blood sacrifice. Sometimes, they are not.

This is an invaluable book, however, for modern occultists of whatever stripe. You ought to discount much of his writing on yoga, however, since there are some instructions which (due to the lack of medical knowledge at the time) are potentially dangerous--do not use the positions he mentions. Do not do pranayama one nostril at a time.

The first two parts of the book largely apply to general Magick, and are very good instructions. For Thelemites, an added bonus is the fourth and final part of the book, a survey on Crowley's claims about what led up to the dictation of The Book of the Law, in addition to a copy of the Book itself and some early comments on it.

Crowley's legendary "Naples Arrangement" of Qabalah makes it's first appearance here, along with a few particularly well-drawn diagrams of the Tree of Life, significantly better than the tiny ones in The Book of Thoth.

A highly recommended book which you can find whole or in parts, occultists need this in your library. Dismiss the fools and read, and discover on your own.