Alchemy (The Weiser Concise Guide Series) [Paperback]

Brian Cotnoir (Author), James Wasserman (Editor)

Book Description

Series: The Weiser Concise Guide Series | Publication Date: May 20, 2006

In The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy, Brian Cotnoir offers a detailed, step-by-step introduction of Alchemy that explores its mysteries while illustrating its use as a modern spiritual system of attainment. He provides an overview of the history of Alchemy, from the first meldings of Egyptian technology, through the Middle Ages--the golden age of alchemy--right up to contemporary techniques. He demystifies the relationship between Alchemy and chemistry, and he provides evidence to detractors that Alchemy is much more than a medieval form of psychotherapy. (The guide includes practical laboratory experiments that safely, and intelligently, lead readers to an understanding of this ancient art and spiritual practice.)

"Brian Cotnoir's book provides an excellent and rare Ariadne's thread, allowing the reader to safely penetrate the labyrinthine mysteries of alchemy, and an excellent concise method to elucidate its enigmatic wonders and the practical possibility to discover its secrets. I highly recommend it."

-- Stanislas Klossowski de Rolla, author of The Golden Game: Alchemical Engravings of the Seventeenth Century and Alchemy: The Secret Art

"This is a lucid and sympathetic introduction to the inner and outer hermetic art of alchemy written by someone with a deep knowledge and love of the subject. Brian Cotnoir is committed to upholding the spiritual purpose hebind practical alchemical endeavour and his book is an indispensable guide to the Great Work." -- Nicholas Goodrich-Clarke, Professor of Western Esotericism, The University of Exeter, and author of Paracelsus, Essential Writings.

"Brian Cotnoir is a practicing alchemist. He contributed to Parachemy: Journal of Hermetic Arts and Sciences and is the author of Alchemy: The Poetry of Matter. This is one of his finest works to date, and it will serve as a reliable guide for those genuinely interested in magick and alchemy.

A product of over thirty years of dedicated research, this book is one of the very finest introductions to alchemy in print. Concise, accurate, and entertaining are three words which best describe this well-written account of alchemy.

Information on distilling and extracting aqua vitae and the "spirit of wine" is given. As well as information concerning the purifying of salts, and obtaining different oils of metal from stones and minerals. The material shared with the reader is clearly written, and what could be heavy duty stuff in a less competent writer's hands, comes across superbly clear and genuinely educational in the words of Brian Cotnoir. This writer knows how to explain well and write well. He is a master of his material and shares it openly and freely with the reader. It is an enjoyment to read what he has to say about alchemy.

The introduction is written by James Wasserman in his usual lucid and creative manner, and its content is highly enjoyable reading. Cotnoir's book is a small masterpiece, a book that educates in the true sense of helping learn and applying alchemy to one's personal life. For those interested in alchemy and related topics, this is a fine reading experience." ~Lee Prosser, Ghostvillage.com

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brian Cotnoir is a dedicated Alchemist who has been working in the field for over thirty years. He has contributed several articles to Parachemy: Journal of Hermetic Arts and Sciences, the alchemical laboratory bulletin of Frater Albertus. He is currently hard at work on completing his magnum opus, Alchemy: The Poetry of Matter. The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy is his first full-length book.

James Wasserman is a lifelong student of esotericism. His published works cover a wide range of subjects within the field--everything from his groundbreaking Egyptian Book of the Dead, edited by Dr. Ogden Goelet, to his classic The Templars and the Assassins, and the controversial Slaves Shall Serve. He lives in New York City with his wife Nancy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 127 pages
• Publisher: Red Wheel Weiser (May 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578633796
• ISBN-13: 978-1578633791
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dense But Worth The Effort, November 4, 2006

By 

Mark Stavish, The Institute for Hermetic Stud... (Wyoming, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alchemy (The Weiser Concise Guide Series) (Paperback)

The Weiser Concise Guide to Alchemy by Brian Cotnoir is exactly as the titles says - concise. The beauty is that it is direct and to the point. Its downfall simple - for someone without any background in general Hermeticism the lack of elaboration on some points can be difficult. However, this lack of extensive theory is also what makes the Concise Guide useful for those seeking practical experiments. There are experiments that are to be done, ideas to be contemplated, and new things to learn. While at times it reads like a cook book, it is important to remember that alchemy is an operative art and science. This is not a "touchy feely" book, it is a book designed to give operative laboratory instruction as related to the Great Work, and that it does. Students who have read The Alchemist's Handbook by Frater Albertus, Practical Handbook of Plant Alchemy by Mandfred Junius, Real Alchemy - A Primer of Practical Alchemy by Robert Bartlett, or The Path of Alchemy - Energetic Healing and the World of Natural Magic by myself,will find the material in Cotnoir's work very easily understood. Those without any previous reading in laboratory alchemy may consider making it a companion read to one or more of the previously mentioned books.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great reference, January 21, 2008

By 

Michael B. King (New York, New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Alchemy (The Weiser Concise Guide Series) (Paperback)

When I first heard that someone had written a concise guild to alchemy, I was very skeptical. I have read, and worked with, a few practical texts previously, and I simply did not think that a concise guide would be much use to me. I was wrong. I honestly return to book again and again to reference one point or another. I would not throw away the classic works of Frater Albertus or Manfred Junius, but I honestly recommend this guide to others. There are a number of matters from the classical works that I just did not really understand until I read this book. There is also some information that I simply have not encountered elsewhere. I have to agree with Mark Stavish, this is not the end all be all of alchemical works. It delivers what it promises, and I am glad I bought it.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A straightforward compression of thirty years' experience, research and study, July 2, 2006

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alchemy (The Weiser Concise Guide Series) (Paperback)

Written by Brian Cotnoir (a dedicated alchemist and contributor to "Parachemy: Journal of Hermetic Arts and Sciences") and expertly edited by James Wasserman, The Weiser Concise Guide To Alchemy, a straightforward compression of thirty years' experience, research and study into a concise introduction to the craft. Chapters discuss the theory and practice of alchemy, including herbal work, mineral work, purification of slats, aspects of cosmology, time, and microcosm in alchemical theory, and much more. A handful of black-and-white illustrations and diagrams clarify salient points raised by the easy-to-follow text. Highly recommended for anyone curious about the metaphysical practice and art of alchemy, or needing a quick refresher course in its basics.