book data
103 ratings, 3.88 average rating, 14 reviews
(more data...)
edit
published
July 28th 2006
(first published 1971)
by Duncan Baird Publishers/Watkins
binding
Paperback, 600 pages
isbn
1842931075
(isbn13: 9781842931073)
description
Colin Wilson’s classic work is an essential guide to the mind-expanding experiences and discoveries of the occult in the 20th century. He produc...more
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
friend reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 144)
Read in June, 2007
This quote from the introduction should illuminate why I am currently thinking of this as a companion to Julian Jaynes: "Primitive man believed the world as full of unseen forces...The Age Of Reason said these forces had only ever existed in man's imagination.."
He then goes on with one of those passages I feel I ought to copy and affix to the bathroom mirror "...the main trouble with human beings is their tendency to become trapped in the 'triviality of everydayness' (to borro...more
He then goes on with one of those passages I feel I ought to copy and affix to the bathroom mirror "...the main trouble with human beings is their tendency to become trapped in the 'triviality of everydayness' (to borro...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2006
recommended to Ibrahim by:
A Syrian intellectual friendrecommends it for: all open minded people, people with a broad scope and not fanatics
As a Christian, I was so afraid to even touch a book like this. But I knew who Colin Wilson was and enjoyed his intriguing style. I read the Occult and could not put it down. It is a really excellent book and it shows you what the human psyche is capable of, which brings to mind books of Tony Buzan who wrote the BBC use your mind series. You will not sin if you pick up such a book and plunge into it and see what the word "OCCULT" really means, apart from the phobia and hysteria that ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1971
recommended to erik by:
Michael Mileyrecommends it for: persons seeking entertainment in the odd
This is not one of Wilson's better books. Given the topic, it should be hard to miss and, indeed, the text contains many juicy anecdotes and outrageous tales. What is lacking is a thesis or a canon of judgment whereby what is to be taken seriously, in the author's opinion, is distinguished from what is merely silly or pretentious. Instead, one is fed a not very nutritious stew of this and that.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2007
Everything you could want to know about the Occult. Impress you friends and neighbors with anecdotes about Rosicrucianism, Alexander Sanders, The Golden Dawn, Dion Fortune, on and on. Wilson covers thousands of years of black magic and shares his own ideas on why man searched, found, and lost such powers and how we might get it back.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Faculty X righty-ho! I love this book. It's a wide-randing survey of the western occult tradition and a suitably cranky contribution to that tradition in its own right. Great stuff, clearly written in that style just manages to sit a step or two above mediocre, take with lots of pinches of salt.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
A delightful look at the history of the occult and the charlatans who've been claiming themselves magicians ever since the age of Paracelsus. Big, but worth it if for nothing else, as an introduction to Gurdjieff, and a perfect synopsis of the life of Aleister Cowley.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1983
I read this before I knew better. While the writing is good and the subject matter is entertaining, I discovered later that the book contains several factual errors and what seems to be deliberate misinformation.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Not at all what I imagined going into it. This book is not a survey of the occult, but rather focuses on a few key figures and why they were able to come to such prominence.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1985
Exhaustive survey of...the Occult. Covers Madame Blavatsky, Gurdjieff, Aleister Crowley, and various lesser table knockers.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Occult 101. Takes you through all the black magicians and alchemists, including Gurdjieff, Crowley, Blavatsky, and The Golden Dawn.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1980
Very entertaining history of the occult throughout history, though some of its "history" must be taken with a grain of salt.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
A classic. And definitely the hideous 70s edition.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
to-read
(on 17 people's shelves)
history (on 6 people's shelves)
non-fiction (on 4 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 4 people's shelves)
occult (on 3 people's shelves)
own (on 1 person's shelf)
supernatural-interests (on 1 person's shelf)
foolosophy (on 1 person's shelf)
metaphysical (on 1 person's shelf)
occult-studies (on 1 person's shelf)
More shelves...
history (on 6 people's shelves)
non-fiction (on 4 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 4 people's shelves)
occult (on 3 people's shelves)
own (on 1 person's shelf)
supernatural-interests (on 1 person's shelf)
foolosophy (on 1 person's shelf)
metaphysical (on 1 person's shelf)
occult-studies (on 1 person's shelf)
More shelves...
