Book of Lies (Paperback)

by Aleister Crowley (Author) "O! the heart of N.O.X. the Night of Pan..." (more)
Key Phrases: penultimate paragraph, Great Work, Master of the Temple, Liber Legis (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
An admirable collection of Crowley's aphorisms-- Witty, subtle, and instructive paradoxes that challenge and exhilarate.

About the Author
Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) was a magus, poet, sexual athlete, mountaineer, traitor, drug fiend, and Prophet of a New Eon. He has been dubbed "The Wickedest Man in the World." Author of 777, Diary of a Drug Fiend, and Book of Lies, as well as many other books, Crowley, with Freida Harris, also created the bestselling Thoth Tarot Deck.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Weiser Books (June 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877285160
• ISBN-13: 978-0877285168
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,634 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 106 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dazzling modern occult scripture, April 5, 2001

By	Michael J. Mazza (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

"The Book of Lies," by Aleister Crowley, is a masterpiece of modern occult literature. The book consists of 93 short chapters (two of which are not numbered), together with Crowley's own commentaries on the chapters. It is marvelous that we thus get to hear Crowley's unique voice speaking in two complementary modes: the revelatory and the analytical.

The 93 chapters take a number of forms: poetry, parable, aphorism, vision, joke, and pun. There are numerous intriguing references: to the Tarot, the Qabala, astrology, Egyptian mythology, the "Left Hand Path," Masonry, the Beast of Revelation, sacred geometry, etc.

Crowley's writing is often cryptic, often witty, often elegant. The book is also full of memorable quotes. One of my favorites: "I slept with Faith and found a corpse in my arms on awakening; I drank and danced all night with Doubt, and found her a virgin in the morning."

Like the most enduring of occult and freethinking writers, Crowley challenges us to refocus our dulled organs of perception, and to rethink our stale mental conventions. "The Book of Lies" belongs on the shelf with my favorite "alternative scriptures": William Blake's "Marriage of Heaven and Hell," the poetry of Stephen Crane, the feminist satires of Luisa Valenzuela, the dark testaments of Anton Szandor LaVey, Ambrose Bierce's "Devil's Dictionary," the savagely satirical writings of Virgilio Pinera, and more. But even in this company, Crowley is in a class of his own.

30 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mystical Poetry, Reference Work and Qabalistic Conundrum, July 21, 2002

By	Graham Douglas Lincoln "The Truth is Absolute... (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews

For The Mystic, this collection of Poetic Insights is very difficult to put-down. Once you start reading, it is almost impossible to do anything but ingest the complex blocks of text before your eyes. Be sure you have some reading time set-aside, before you tackle this one. I read it in two sittings, but I would-have finished it in one, if I only had the time!
Only Mystics will fully appreciate this Work of amazing verbal, Qabalistic Conundrums.
Any student of Crowley should have this text on-hand, because he refers the reader to this Poetic treatise, more often than not. Regardless of whether you are reading his "Confessions" (Autohagiography) or his Qabalistic masterpiece, "777," you will casually be referred back to the good ol' "Book of Lies."
I never imagined this book of Crowley's whimsical jottings would prove so intriguing or helpful in pursuit of mystical knowledge. Crowley often refers to this book as his most-important work. However, don't expect to "get it" right-away. This is more of a Text-book, than a casual Poetry book.
I am surprised he didn't put a Test in the back!
However, this book is all-about testing yourself, not being tested by others. Luckily, the Commentaries were added for us common folk. Enjoy !

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poems, December 25, 2005

By	Daniel Shevock (Pittsburgh, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a book of ninety-three poems based mostly on seemingly qabalistic principles and spiritual development. Crowley's occultism seems to be a hodge-podge of religions and philosophies, including everything from Christianity, Hindu thought to Islamic concepts and Pagan deities. Sometimes these poems even seem to disagree with each other, but are always quite inspiring. Even with all of this, this work is anything but dull. The author's wit is readily apparent throughout. I would suggest for the intellect with no prior experience in reading Crowley, to read this book. It gave me a respect for this philosopher's mind.