"Aleister Crowley's Four Books of Magick" by Stephen Skinner is a comprehensive and illuminating guide to the profound teachings of one of the most enigmatic figures in the realm of the occult. Skinner's meticulous scholarship and deep understanding of Crowley's work make this book an invaluable resource for both newcomers and seasoned practitioners of magick. It provides insight into Crowley's esoteric philosophy, rituals, and mystical practices, offering a clear and accessible entry point into the world of Thelema. If you're curious about Crowley's magickal system and wish to explore his writings, this book serves as an essential and enlightening companion that sheds light on the profound mysteries of his teachings.

This was very interesting and technical. It brings a lot of knowledge and history all together. Definitely takes time to read and understand.

Thank you to Netgalley and Watkins for a copy off this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I have always had a strange fascination with Aleister Crowley since I was a teenager and looking into the magical and spiritual realms, whilst trying to find my own identity. His beliefs are so interesting and he obviously lived his life to the fullest and under his own set of rules. This book is a great introduction to the man himself and his well know works. There is a lot of digest and I imagine I will re-read the books at some point in the future just to make sure I have taken it all in.

Stephen Skinner has done a great job of helping the reader understand this fascinating but sometimes troubled man. Whilst he is obviously a an admirer of Crowley he also doesn't mind questioning some of his antics and beliefs with a critical eye. Wether you love him or hate him, this book is set to bring this unique man to life.

I enjoy reading and gaining information about all thing metaphysical. These books are an absolute treat. Aleister Crowley is renown for a reason.

This is a great combination of the more popular books of his workings. I find it a wonderful start for those interested in his work.

Whatever your views of Crowley, this is a wonderful piece of academic work. Stephen Skinner has been a respected writer on the occult for about five decades and he has done himself proud with this one.

The book includes Crowley's Four Books of Magick as well as commentaries to clarify some of Crowley's more obscure passages and additional materials referred to in the main books. It also includes translations of Greek and Latin phrases that Crowley sprinkles into his writings.

At 1032 pages it's a chunky tome, but that's no surprise when four shorter books plus extra material are bound together.

This is one to read slowly and savour, and definitely for someone with an interest in the subject matter. I'd say it's the most comprehensive volume of Crowley's work ever published.

This is an interesting book which is well edited by Stephen Skinner. An interesting read and one which I had wanted to look at for some time.

Thanks to Netgalley and Watkins for the ARC Copy.

Alester Crowleys Four Books of Magick by Stephen Skinner is a massive tome full of all the information one would need to study the materials written by Aleister Crowley. This collection of books was put together with all the added supplemental information one would need to fully read these books. According to Skinner each Crowley book has a list of other supplemental books that would be needed to complete the workings so he added the materials for easy study. Also all the Latin and Greek has been translated for understanding. This book would be a great addition to anyone’s magical study.

My thanks to Watkins Publishing for a digital review copy via NetGalley of ‘Aleister Crowley's Four Books of Magick Liber ABA’, edited by Stephen Skinner in exchange for an honest review. I have since ordered its hardback edition.

This collection of four books under the title of ‘Book Four/Liber ABA’ by occultist, magician and philosopher, Aleister Crowley, is a masterpiece and a foundation text of modern magick. It was written in the early twentieth century in collaboration with a number of his students/scarlet women, who were given coauthor credit by Crowley.

Its four books cover meditation/mysticism, elementary magick, magick in theory and practice, and finally the Book of the Law, the central sacred text of Thelema, the religion founded by Crowley.

Dr. Stephen Skinner was an excellent choice of editor for this collection as he has written extensively on the subject of magic(k) over the years and also served as the editor for Crowley’s magical diaries. He places Crowley’s life and work in context both during his lifetime as well as his continued influence upon modern occultism.

Dr. Skinner includes a number of additions to Crowley’s raw material; notably an excellent Introduction, a Crowley chronology, extensive annotations, and a bibliography. There are also photographs and illustrations scattered throughout the text.

As a result, this is a volume that I am certain will have a wide appeal to occultists and magicians of various levels of experience. I am looking forward to adding it to my home library.

Highly recommended.

Aleister Crowley. What an interesting character. The first books about witchcraft that I ever read were by him. The author takes Crowley's writings and compiles them with his own insights. I liked the way he made the books easier to understand. I was most interested in the rituals and ceremonial magic. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to know more about Crowley. I received this book from Net Galley and Watkins Publishing for a honest review. This is it.

As someone who owns several of Crowley's books and who has been interested in his theories, this is a fantastic guide to his writings. Skinner does a beautiful job with introducing Aleister Crowley's texts and views.

Aleister Crowley is the sort of naughty uncle you see in the old family pictures but never met. You heard a lot about him (i even worked with a Thelema) but we never met.
This book was a good way to meet him, to read what he wrote and define my own idea about him.
To be honest I wasn't really impressed by his books as I found them confusing and a mix match of different magical systems.
But i loved the introductions, the notes and the excellent work done by Stephen Skinner as his work helped me to navigate Crowley's works.
Even if I think that the naughty uncle work is not my cup of tea I strongly recommend this book as I think it's a must read.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I cannot give a true rating of this book. I requested it out of sheer curiosity, but it would take many hours of reading and research to give a comprehensive opinion. I will say the author is obviously extremely passionate. One must use their own judgement regarding Crowley and the OTO.

As someone with no prior knowledge of Crowley and a deep curiosity about all of the interesting characters who were kicking around London in the late C18th - early C19th, this is a fantastic anthology.

The introduction alone is so valuable and full of names and books to research and read.

Great collection of important work by a very interesting man.

As someone who owns several of Crowley's books and who has been interested in his theories, this is a fantastic guide to his writings. Skinner does an unbelievable job of helping the reader to understand Crowley's erratic mind and beliefs. A priceless and fascinating read, I have pre-ordered a physical copy to add to my home library

This was a great read. It had a lot of stuff I had never heard before about Aleister Crowley. Must read for those who want to learn more about him.

My practice is more earth based but I have always wanted to know more about Aleister Crowley and his beliefs…and this book is just what I needed. While it includes four of his most prolific works, it gives great insight into his beliefs. For me, I took it as the “Illuminating writings of a unique man” and will be reading this again in more detail over time. Let’s just say there is unique, and then there is what did I just read? I need to read that again. This is definitely a great read for anyone interested in learning more about the man and his beliefs.

A great compilation of the more popular Crowley books.. This is a great introduction to his writings for someone interested in Thelema or Crowley in general.

“Mr. Crowley, what went on in your head?”

Show-off, womaniser, charmer, the wickedest man in England or just a bit of a prat? The jury on Aleister Crowley has been out for decades, but now this welcome collection of his work may help to rehabilitate him.
History has forgotten Crowley’s “distinctly original contributions” to the study of yoga in the West, and his many mountaineering records, some of which still stand today, in favour of the “sexier” stuff. Stephen Skinner’s excellent, lucid and often funny introduction to this definitive collection of the four Parts that make up Crowley’s “Book Four” magnum opus is worth the asking price alone. There is also a timeline of Crowley’s life which shows he packed in enough action to fill several lifetimes, but there is also a clear decline as age and hard times caught up with him. Skinner also examines how Crowley’s attempt to start his own religion, Thelema, and how it came to obsess him.
I’ve never swam so deep in AC’s world before so I appreciate the guiding hand of author Stephen Skinner; an expert in the world of magic and a Crowley admirer, but unafraid to be critical when needed. The four books are presented in their original form with new footnotes where necessary. The author has also moved certain original appendices around so that they are now grouped by type, rather than Crowley’s own often haphazard system. This collection is a welcome (and successful) attempt to simplify Crowley’s work and to present it as a coherent whole.
Crowley’s work is, to the uninitiated (and possibly even to the initiated) utterly impenetrable nonsense. True, some of it was Crowley’s own invention which he added in for show, and he was not averse to “fiddling the numbers” to make his Kabbalah calculations work better. But, as Skinner explains, Crowley’s desire was to modernise magic and to explain it in scientific terms, thus making it accessible to the masses.
I vividly recall buying a copy of “Magick” back in the early 90s, feeling quite naughty and being convinced I’d be able to summon up demons in no time, but utterly failing to make any sense of the bizarre words and weird diagrams within. Unsurprisingly, I still can’t get anything out of Crowley’s work but thanks to Skinner’s lucid annotation I can at least get the basic gist, and I’m truly glad that this collection exists. This volume will be of great benefit to the reader who is already well-versed in the subject matter.
A reappraisal of Aleister Crowley is long overdue, and this erudite, definitive work is the best of all possible starts.

Thanks to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for allowing me to view an advanced reading copy.