Magick Bk. 4 : Liber ABA [Hardcover]

Aleister Crowley (Author), Illustrated (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 500 pages
• Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser; Revised edition (1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877287376
• ISBN-13: 978-0877287377
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #659,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

99 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate Thelemic resource : Crowley's Dream Come True, March 29, 2003

By 

Frater V "The Truth is Absolutely Not Absolut... (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Magick: Liber ABA (Book 4) (Hardcover)

The Big Blue Brick is Crowley's dream come true. This is the ultimate Thelemic resource guide, which contains an in-depth Introduction to the book and the full story of the creation of 'Thelema.' This compilation contains many of Crowley's most-important works and rituals, including; "Book Four" (ISBN # 0877285136)*, "Magick in Theory and Practice" (ISBN # 0486232956)*, and "The Equinox of the Gods" (ISBN # 1561840289)--events leading up to and including the creation of 'The Book of The Law.' This book also contains numerous important 'Appendices' and a million or so footnotes that were meticulously scrutinized for accuracy.

* note: be careful with 'Book Four' (in which Crowley depicts a ridiculous conception of The Scourge used in Witchcraft, legitimately) & 'Magick in Theory and Practice' (esp., due to the fact that in that time period, as now, 'morality' prevented people from talking/writing about sex, but it was/is perfectly ok to talk or write about more dangerous subjects). When reading Crowley, one must often read between the lines. Crowley had a weird sense of humor about revealing 'secrets' without revealing them--when in doubt, reread the section(s) and 'Magick Without Tears' (which shows Crowley's sense of humor and proves he was 'of sound mind' at the end of his life--a typical cranky ol' Grandpa kind guy).

'Magick' is NOT light reading! This is a scholarly work that took decades to compile, and a century to be brought-together in this format. Keep in mind, purchasing this book is the equivalent of purchasing many of Crowley's books in one volume (as he originally intended)--with the added benefit of preface material, illustrations, modern research, Footnotes (!), etc. It is well-worth the price, considering the fact that all of this material is compiled in a painstaking manner, including lost material and better renditions of previous editions.

However, for those who are just beginning to study Thelema, or have just begun the process of wading through Crowley's works (or just want to research Thelema in-general), I strongly suggest beginning with: "The Magick of Thelema: A Handbook of the Rituals of Aleister Crowley," by Lon Milo Duquette (ISBN # 0877287783).

For further research about "Thelema" and "The Book of The Law," I suggest: "The Law is For All," by Aleister Crowley (ISBN # 1561840904).

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A life time of magical knowledge by the master of the art, December 3, 1999

By 

Jody (Mississippi) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magick: Liber ABA (Book 4) (Hardcover)

Aleister Crowley is in fine form here dispensing esoteric philosophy and step by step instructions on some of the most important and powerful magickal practices and ceremonies. The writing is carefully worded so that even beginners can grasp the concepts and gain insight from this most valuable text book. The book embodies two of Crowley's most important and famous works "Liber legis"(THE BOOK OF THE LAW)and "magick in theory and practice." The writing on yoga is among the finest i've ever read on the subject anywhere and is absolutly revolutionary for it's time. Crowley encompasses such a vast body of information in this book that it never fails to teach the student something new each time it is referenced.Anyone interested in pursuing the great work will find this an invaluable edition to their library.The beast may have indeed been mortal but his words shall endure until the end.PERDURABO!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you get only one Crowley book, this is the one, October 25, 2000

By 

"snowcatguy" (Eugene, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magick: Liber ABA (Book 4) (Hardcover)

This text is heralded as Crowley's Magnum Opus. And with good cause.

If you only get one book by the Beast, this should be it. In it is his complete system of Magick and Thelema. This work, as previous reviewers have indicated, contains in one volume all the texts that are essential to Crowley's system. I found it much more convenient to get the single volume as opposed to raking through used books section of a dozen or so occult bookshops.

It is, admittedly, hard to read straight through, but it is worth the effort. This book does for Thelema much of what Regarde's "The Golden Dawn" does for that occult system.