Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #205394 in Books
• Published on: 1989-12-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 984 pages

Customer Reviews

Great read, over and over
Before I read this book (years ago - it was at a bookstore in the clearance section for $4.95!), Aleister Crowley seemed pure myth. He was but a cryptic, faceless personality surrounded by what I'd later find out to be gross misrepresentation and ignorance - which, incidentally, I fell for, hook, line and sinker.

But upon reading his 'autohagiography,' the man was finally fleshed out and rendered human. And what a colorful and fascinating character! Hardly the evil scumbag people considered (and occasionally STILL consider) him to be. I found that he harbored views and opinions similar to my own about mob psychology and the like, and he had a way of expressing his thoughts, feelings and views which was nothing short of amazing. This is one of the most quotable books in the world, I feel. Crowley doesn't mince words, and he has a wonderful command of the English language (among other languages).

His accounts of mountain climbing and world travels are fascinating. His magical experiences are equally so. He approaches these subjects with great wisdom - often tinged with a priceless sardonic humor (which is what I appreciate most about the book). Crowley was a great wit.

I find that I can open this book to any page at random and start reading - and every time I'm hooked.

I have breezed through this review, so it isn't as incisive as I originally planned it to be. But the above is how I feel in a nutshell. If you are at all interested in this man, this book is a must. I recommend it very highly.

Wicked Uncle Al Does It Again!
I found the Confessions to be inspiring, irritating, tragic, and hilariously funny. Love him or hate him; Crowley was a unique individual whose accomplishments are not to be underestimated.

I was not bothered by the lack of magickal writing: after all, the book was never intended to be a textbook on magick. Besides, I have no interest in practicing magick.

Apart from Crowley's racism and misogyny (he was, after all, a 19th century British man. He couldn't help it), he had a remarkably progressive and universal view. He did the best that he could.
I delighted in the lessons that his strengths, weaknesses, virtues, flaws, follies and triumphs. One thing that he was was honest. Despite the possibility that he may have embellished the truth at times, he did so leaving the reader with the oportunity to see through him. He held himself and others to very exacting standards.

At times I found myself laughing out loud at many of his anecdotes. They were my favorite parts of the book; especially when he was presenting himself as either the fool or "The Wickedest Man in the World": with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek.

I have met a few people who knew Crowley during the last years of his life. They all had some interesting things to say about him. Apparently, despite his occasional display of bad manners, he was quite an interesting man. One person described him as being "a lot of fun".

A good read. One of my favorite books.

A Great Read About a Great Beast-- But Don't Stop Here
Crowley's autohagiography is fascinating from start to finish: he was the supreme egotist in all things and a master manipulator of weaker souls (of which there was a limitless supply). So, read and enjoy, but ask yourself: did he really turn Victor Neuberg into a camel? Could he become invisible as he claimed? Did he copy down a book dictated to him by an Egyptian god? You get to decide whether he's a reliable source....

After you read this, you'll want a more objective view of the life of this remarkable man, and for that I'd turn to either John Symond's "The Geat Beast" (fair but credulous) or the much more recent "Do What Thou Wilt" by Lawrence Sutin-- an excellent, open-minded, reasonably skeptical look at Crowley's life and works. No matter what you decide about Crowley (genius, prankster, or madman), these are all entertaining and worthwhile books.

But begin with this one, straight from the magus' mouth.