Witchcraft: A Concise Guide or Which Witch Is Which? (Paperback)

~ Isaac Bonewits (Author), Ashleen O'Gaea (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Fabulous—an intriguing way to begin research on witchcraft. -- PanGaia magazine (2003)

I am sure that it will now take its place in the canon of essential reading for American Pagans. -- Prof. Ronald Hutton, Univ. of Bristol, Author, Triumph of the Moon (2003)

Once again, Bonewits has written a cIassic that should be required reading for anyone seeking a one-book introduction to Wicca. -- newWitch Magazine, Vol 1, #1

You will seldom find a more terse, cogent, and readable work on contemporary Wicca. -- Phaedra Oorbeck, Vice President, Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (2003)

Product Description

Bonewits writes of Witchcraft from its disputed origins, to the Inquisition, to its re-invention in the 20th century. A scholarly, pungent, witty and sometimes personal account. The book is a succinct guide to the many ways the term "witch" has been used over the centuries, and includes a preface by Ashleen O'Gaea (author of "The Family Wicca Book"), a detailed recommended reading list, and an analysis of the standard ritual design used by most Wiccan traditions. It is the fruit of the author's over thirty years of Wiccan research and practice.

Bonewits, says O'Gaea, "knows Wicca from the inside out, and in this work he shares the definitions and distinctions he's developed from his intimate experience and original research. When you're talking about Neopagan Witchcraft, Bonewits is an author, advisor, and scholar you want - no, let me be stronger: he's someone you need on your side."

"Bonewits has made it easy to understand Wicca's history and structure meaningfully. Beyond that, he offers one of the best bibliographies I've seen - his reading list alone makes this book indispensable on any serious priest/ess' bookshelf. But there's something else that makes this book special, and that's how reader-friendly it is." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Earth Religions Press (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594055009
• ISBN-13: 978-1594055003
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,204,032 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This will annoy all kinds of fundamentalists, July 14, 2001

By A Customer

This ebook demolishes all the fake history that Christians and Wiccans have both built up around witchcraft. Yes he got a few dates wrong, but the typo list on his website says a new edition will be out in August without the mistakes. I think the sarcasm this ebook is getting has more to do with exploded myths and lies that some famous Pagan authors and founders of Wiccan trads have built careers on than anything else.

The book is fun to read but gives readers solid historical information and a great book list to let them go further. He seems to know that the Goddess is Eternal even if Wicca is young, that the only Devil worshipping witches were invented by the Christians, and that *honest* scholarship can mix with *honest* faith. He also includes an explanation of *why* Wiccan rituals are they way they are and how to make them better!

I recommend this to everyone who wants a concentrated blast of reality about old and new Witchcraft.

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading!, June 20, 2001

By	Zyalia, the crone - See all my reviews

As a practicing Witch for better than 30 years and a "Wiccan elder" I highly recommend this book for a good and truly concise history of Wicca. In typical Bonewits fashion he is short on neither humour nor opinion as he takes us on a succinct tour of our roots. His research is impeccable and littered liberally with personal experience from one who was an integral part of the Neo-Pagan beginning. If Mr. Bonewits gives us nothing else he has verbalized one truth in one clear and simple statement as only he can:

"The deities ...witches worship are ancient, no matter how new our religion or our insights about Them might be."

If I can find any fault with a Concise History, it is perhaps that it is too concise and left me wanting more. Fortunately the extensive bibliography affords me the opportunity to research as far as I choose. Witchcraft: A Concise History will be required reading for any class I teach on the subject. Although the e-book text was surprisingly easy to read I personally can't wait until it comes out as a paperback so I can add it to my real world library...but don't wait.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Reflection of NeoPaganism, June 13, 2001

By	Joy O. Williams (Scotts Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Dear Readers,

It has been many years since a concise understanding of the history and psychology of witchcraft was understood. In fact, I don't think we've ever seen one that actually permeates the membrane, even within the Neo-Pagan community, of what this is all about, until now. Bonewits has portrayed very vividly the evolution and the idea of the "witch".

Isaac Bonewits is a true Iconoclast, and a Heretic of Heretics. This is a Good Thing.

He challenges the New-Age Witch and the Satanist and the Shamanist, which is good when one gets down to what we really are. When one is in the "community" it is often hard to get a hard grasp on the concept, but Isaac Bonewits, from his knowledge and fortunately through a good sense of humour, clarifies a lot of things about witchcraft that many wouldn't understand unless they read his book. His book is not only important to the casual explorer in spirituality but is also important for those who think they understand NeoPaganism, and still have many questions about the origins and the meanings of what a "witch" or a "neoPagan" is all about. I highly recommend this book not only to the Pagan Clergy but to any Clergy who wish to have a good source as to what Paganism is all about, as well as to anyone who wishes to have a source in their spiritual repertoire about the nature of (Neo)Paganism.