The Holy Books of Thelema [Paperback]

Aleister Crowley (Author)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Aleister Crowley (1875-1947), who claimed to be the re-incarnation of Dr. John Dee among others, lived in England from 1875 through 1947. He is the author of several Weiser Books titles, including Book of Thoth, Diary of a Drug Fiend, Magick, Book of Lies, Book of the Law and 777 & Other Qabalistic Writings.

Product Details

• Paperback: 322 pages
• Publisher: Weiser Books (November 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877286868
• ISBN-13: 978-0877286868
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #399,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crowley's Legacy, December 24, 2000

By 

J. French "93 93/93" (Oakland, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Holy Books of Thelema (Paperback)

The Holy books of Thelema stand quite apart from the technical works Crowley wrote throughout his life. They were "received" or channeled if you will, rather than developed by Crowley's ego (by which I mean his mortal psyche). Every Liber is a gem, proving to anyone who reads them with an open mind that Crowley was a true prophet. Within you will find not only the Book of the Law, but the Liber Lapis Lazuli and the Book of the Heart Gird Round by the Serpent. The latter is a spiritual masterpiece equal to Liber AL. I reccomend that the Holy Books be read slowly, perhaps a passage at a time. That way, they'll sink in.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Modern Gnostic Writings, June 17, 2005

By 

R. Frost "[e-mail]" (Chicago, Il USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Holy Books of Thelema (Paperback)

"The Holy Books of Thelema" contain some of the most beautiful, insightful prose I have ever read...comparable to the writings of the ancient gnostics or the poetry of William Blake. This Book, as well as the writings of Crowley in general are highly recommended, especially "The Book of the Law", "The Book of Lies", "The Confessions of Aleister Crowley", and "The Vision and the Voice. For comparable writings...see "The Nag Hammadi Library", Carl Jung's "Seven Sermons to the Dead", and "The Holy Fire of St. Michael" by Richard Michael Willoughby.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Holy Books Presage New and Greater Civilization, August 22, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Holy Books of Thelema (Paperback)

Despite some typographical errors and the fact that the editors chose the earliest instead of the latest rescensions of several books, this book is a worthy addition to the library of anyone truly interested in comparative Spirituality, even if they are not especially interested in Aleister Crowley's Thelemic cultus. Aleister Crowley never surpassed his own Thelemic "holy books," about which he was uncharacteristically silent, especially the Book of the Heart Girt about by the Serpent and the Book of the Freed or the Blue Stone, which are as beautiful and profound as the greatest Spiritual literature of any time or people. Many will find some sections, especially the Book of the Law, disturbing, but closer scrutiny will reveal a deep penetration of many difficult Spiritual questions which are not satisfactorily resolved in many other religions, and a keen and penetrating insight into the brutalities of the 21st century, which mark the necessary Next Step in a transition to a new and a greater civilization. Now the Holy Books need to be reissued in a truly critical edition, with alternative readings, footnotes, appendices explaining all of the allusions, and a comprehensive book, chapter, and verse index.