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A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult
A lavishly illustrated history of witchcraft, magic, and the occult, from Paleolithic cave rituals to Wicca and modern paganism.
A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult charts the extraordinary narrative of one of the most interesting and often controversial subjects in the world--from ancient animal worship and shamanism, through alchemy and divination to modern Wicca and the resurgence of the occult in 21st-century literature, movies, and television.
Providing a comprehensive, balanced, and unbiased account of everything from Japanese folklore and Indian witchcraft to the differences between black and white magic, and dispelling myths such as those surrounding the voodoo doll and Ouija, the book explores the common human fear of and fascination with spells, superstition, and the supernatural. The perfect introduction to magic and the occult, it explores forms of divination from astrology and palmistry to the Tarot and runestones, mystical plants and potions such as mandrake, the presence of witchcraft in literature from Shakespeare's Macbeth to the Harry Potter series, and the ways in which magic has interacted with mainstream religions.
The most comprehensive illustrated history of witchcraft available, A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult will enthrall and fascinate you with its lavish illustrated, accessible entries, whether you are a believer or a skeptic.
A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult charts the extraordinary narrative of one of the most interesting and often controversial subjects in the world--from ancient animal worship and shamanism, through alchemy and divination to modern Wicca and the resurgence of the occult in 21st-century literature, movies, and television.
Providing a comprehensive, balanced, and unbiased account of everything from Japanese folklore and Indian witchcraft to the differences between black and white magic, and dispelling myths such as those surrounding the voodoo doll and Ouija, the book explores the common human fear of and fascination with spells, superstition, and the supernatural. The perfect introduction to magic and the occult, it explores forms of divination from astrology and palmistry to the Tarot and runestones, mystical plants and potions such as mandrake, the presence of witchcraft in literature from Shakespeare's Macbeth to the Harry Potter series, and the ways in which magic has interacted with mainstream religions.
The most comprehensive illustrated history of witchcraft available, A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult will enthrall and fascinate you with its lavish illustrated, accessible entries, whether you are a believer or a skeptic.
735 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2020
617 people are currently reading
4742 people want to read
About the author
Suzannah Lipscomb
18books720followersProf Suzannah Lipscomb is Professor Emerita in History at the University of Roehampton. She is the author of 1536: The Year that Changed Henry VIII, A Visitor's Companion to Tudor England, The King is Dead: The Last Will and Testament of Henry VIII, Witchcraft, and The Voices of Nimes: Women, Sex and Marriage in Reformation Languedoc. She edited, with Helen Carr, What is History, Now? (out 2021). She also writes and presents television programmes, including series on Henry VIII and his Six Wives, Witches: A Century of Murder, and Elizabeth I; hosts the podcast Not Just the Tudors from History Hit, and writes a regular column for History Today.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
August 30, 2020
I will say upfront that this book either needs to be a physical book or pairing the physical and the audiobook. It’s not to say it is not fascinating. Still, I missed a few things because I did not have a visual representation of something that I assume are in the book from how the audio goes.
A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult by D.K. Publishing is not a book for people who are looking at magic/magical ideas in the New Age, Wiccan, Modern Witch, or other such movements. It is a book based on archaeological and anthropological records. As most of those are still highly western-based, Europe is more of the base of the book. Not entirely, but it is what we know in the archaeological record.
There are more than a few points that people who believe in a continuous oral record of the magical practices of various sorts. These individuals may find themselves frustrated with this, as it doesn’t move into the oral areas of remembrance as that is not trackable.
It is a reference book moving through history as we know it of magic. It does touch on African, Chinese, and Mesoamerican history as well as some more general information. The different topics where fascinating, and I liked that when relative issues in both areas were mentioned.
Often when dealing with ideas that show up in multiple cultures, people might confuse the idea that shares the same word because English is a language built by a specific culture. We translate words to what is similar to one in ours already. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the same thing, its just as close as the English language has to that concept.
I wish I had this in a physical copy, and I likely will get one in the future when I start having money again. Right now, it’s just not within my affordability. It would be useful for how I, as a writer, like to build my magic systems based on real-world thoughts on magic. While not all of my magic systems have a direct one-to-one correlation to our world but using the logic of the world we live in to embody magic in my stories feels essential.
However, because this book needs to have a physical component and I wasn’t aware of that when I purchased it, it did sort of suck for me as an audiobook. There were asides that are clearly the caption of the image, but there is no image or PDF for me to look at. If there was a PDF included with the audio, as many of my other books have done so � fiction and nonfiction alike � I wouldn’t have been so annoyed. But there isn’t a PDF or any inclusion with the purchase to look at these asides for the book.
I do want to revisit this if I ever purchase a physical or digital copy that comes with the images and see how it looks inside. However, for now, I just like it. It’s a decent fast encyclopedia idea that introduces you to a lot of the basics. I do not love it, and I would be willing to reconsider with the physical book. But as it is it’s a long description of a variety of magic and occult things in the archaeological record and presented with little snippets. This is fine, it was not entirely what I expected it to be. But that is okay.
There was an amazon review I saw when I was looking at this book saying that this whitewashes it, and I disagree with that statement. There are more aspects of the European and Asian cultures then basically everywhere else, but there isn’t a lot understood of the magic systems of other cultures at this point in time available in the English language. This doesn’t excuse it entirely, but part of the loss information from the genocides and colonization means we cannot know what was known. Some of it has survived, and I believe it is covered (with the caveat that my knowledge is a little limited). Still, if there is an oral tradition, I am unaware of with some of this that could be accounted for.
I also know that there is a discussion of other cultures. However, the Western idea of magic doesn’t exist in a lot of different cultures and representing it in a Magic book would be disrespectful of these cultures, and not respectful.
But I know I could be wrong, and I study this from a theoretical point of view and not from a practice point of view and will change my tune if something is brought to my attention. But for now, it is a good reference book for general learning.
A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult by D.K. Publishing is not a book for people who are looking at magic/magical ideas in the New Age, Wiccan, Modern Witch, or other such movements. It is a book based on archaeological and anthropological records. As most of those are still highly western-based, Europe is more of the base of the book. Not entirely, but it is what we know in the archaeological record.
There are more than a few points that people who believe in a continuous oral record of the magical practices of various sorts. These individuals may find themselves frustrated with this, as it doesn’t move into the oral areas of remembrance as that is not trackable.
It is a reference book moving through history as we know it of magic. It does touch on African, Chinese, and Mesoamerican history as well as some more general information. The different topics where fascinating, and I liked that when relative issues in both areas were mentioned.
Often when dealing with ideas that show up in multiple cultures, people might confuse the idea that shares the same word because English is a language built by a specific culture. We translate words to what is similar to one in ours already. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the same thing, its just as close as the English language has to that concept.
I wish I had this in a physical copy, and I likely will get one in the future when I start having money again. Right now, it’s just not within my affordability. It would be useful for how I, as a writer, like to build my magic systems based on real-world thoughts on magic. While not all of my magic systems have a direct one-to-one correlation to our world but using the logic of the world we live in to embody magic in my stories feels essential.
However, because this book needs to have a physical component and I wasn’t aware of that when I purchased it, it did sort of suck for me as an audiobook. There were asides that are clearly the caption of the image, but there is no image or PDF for me to look at. If there was a PDF included with the audio, as many of my other books have done so � fiction and nonfiction alike � I wouldn’t have been so annoyed. But there isn’t a PDF or any inclusion with the purchase to look at these asides for the book.
I do want to revisit this if I ever purchase a physical or digital copy that comes with the images and see how it looks inside. However, for now, I just like it. It’s a decent fast encyclopedia idea that introduces you to a lot of the basics. I do not love it, and I would be willing to reconsider with the physical book. But as it is it’s a long description of a variety of magic and occult things in the archaeological record and presented with little snippets. This is fine, it was not entirely what I expected it to be. But that is okay.
There was an amazon review I saw when I was looking at this book saying that this whitewashes it, and I disagree with that statement. There are more aspects of the European and Asian cultures then basically everywhere else, but there isn’t a lot understood of the magic systems of other cultures at this point in time available in the English language. This doesn’t excuse it entirely, but part of the loss information from the genocides and colonization means we cannot know what was known. Some of it has survived, and I believe it is covered (with the caveat that my knowledge is a little limited). Still, if there is an oral tradition, I am unaware of with some of this that could be accounted for.
I also know that there is a discussion of other cultures. However, the Western idea of magic doesn’t exist in a lot of different cultures and representing it in a Magic book would be disrespectful of these cultures, and not respectful.
But I know I could be wrong, and I study this from a theoretical point of view and not from a practice point of view and will change my tune if something is brought to my attention. But for now, it is a good reference book for general learning.
November 6, 2021
Who doesn't love a DK picture book aimed at adults? This full-color and lusciously illustrated book offers a study of magical and occult practices from cultures around the world through the lens of material culture. In terms of timeline, the book covers a vast chronology of magical practices and wraps up with a mention of neo-Wiccans and witchy activism that has found new footing in the digital age. While the text portions are too brief (it is just a survey book after all), they are thorough and engaging. And I do mean thorough! I would be surprised to find a type of magical practice that isn’t mentioned in this book. I especially loved the section on Byzantine court magic and learning about chremetismomancy or the practice of interpreting the neighs of horses as a form of divination! The real joy comes from exploring the images within and learning more about the history of magic through objects. Highly recommend if you're looking for a quick reference guide with gorgeous photos to add to your macabre library.
August 10, 2021
Absolutely amazing book! ❤️
June 7, 2024
4 stars
A great beginner book for anyone interested in learning about the occult and various belief systems. I know you can’t include everything, but I would have liked to see more South American and African based mysticism/ spiritualities mentioned.
A great beginner book for anyone interested in learning about the occult and various belief systems. I know you can’t include everything, but I would have liked to see more South American and African based mysticism/ spiritualities mentioned.
February 25, 2021
Starting point for further investigation.
At times too vague for my taste.
At times too vague for my taste.
March 16, 2021
This book is an absolutely gorgeous overview of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult. It has divided the history up chronologically and provides beautiful colored photos throughout. The topics range from the general history, but then it goes into greater details about a variety of topics to give the reader a little more insight. I really enjoyed reading about different magical herbs, astral magic, and protective objects from around the globe. The section on Jewish Magic and Mysticism was also very interesting. I am heavily considering buying myself a hard copy of this book when it comes out.
Thank you to NetGalley and DK Publishing for providing me with an e-ARC of this beautiful book. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and DK Publishing for providing me with an e-ARC of this beautiful book. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 1, 2020
An excellent reference book, presented with DK's signature layout of accessible text, annotated illustrations, and sidebars for deeper context. The book encompasses more than the title leads one to believe, covering the history of spells, charms, divination, ancestor and animal veneration, medicine, mythology, fairy tales, legal and religious trials, Freemasonry, shamanism, spiritualism, voodoo, hypnosis, and much more from prehistoric to modern times.
December 23, 2023
A good coffee table book laid out really well. I read it for research for my novel. I knew most of it already so it is probably more for general interest than for specific research.
February 28, 2024
4.5 stars.
This covered everything from Japanese ancient medicine, to Azalea Banks. I was obsessed.
This covered everything from Japanese ancient medicine, to Azalea Banks. I was obsessed.
August 25, 2022
A thoroughly enjoyable book, seeing the evolution of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult from ancient times, through the lens of different religions and regions in the world, all the way through to modern day depiction in our society, social media and traditional media.
It has great imagery, quotes and examples to go along with the content. Highly recommend it if you are into this topic, or even to see where some of your fav fantasy books takes inspiration from.
It has great imagery, quotes and examples to go along with the content. Highly recommend it if you are into this topic, or even to see where some of your fav fantasy books takes inspiration from.
May 30, 2023
Pros: lots of information easily digested, plentiful photographs, varied topics
Cons: I feel like there was more magic from the African continent that deserved mention
The book has 5 sections, each broken down into numerous subchapters going into more detail. The sections are: Ancient roots (prehistory to 400 CE), Curse or Cure (400-1500), Scholars and Sabbats (1500-1700), Secrecy and Ceremony (1700-1900), and Modern Magic (1900 onward). There is also a glossary at the back of the book. I was impressed by the number of subsections there were and how thorough the coverage is both in terms of history and geography.
Most topics got a 2 page spread, with a few getting 4 pages. Occasionally side information would get its own spread, like images of fetishes or amulets from different cultures or the meanings of rune stones and how to use them for divination.
I would have liked to learn more about indigenous African beliefs. The authors did a good job of trying to differentiate between magical practices, superstition, and religions still being practiced (which only showed up as they intersected with magical practices, like the Christian persecution of witches). I was impressed by the sheer breadth of information covered. Much of it I was familiar with, but there were sections, like Finnish native beliefs that I had never heard about.
There are a lot of excellent photographs and good use is made of box text diving into specific practices and practitioners that needed a bit more coverage.
I didn’t expect the modern sections to interest me as much as the ancient and medieval sections, but it was fascinating to see some practices return and others morph over time.
If you’re looking for a broad overview of magical practices, this is an excellent book.
Cons: I feel like there was more magic from the African continent that deserved mention
The book has 5 sections, each broken down into numerous subchapters going into more detail. The sections are: Ancient roots (prehistory to 400 CE), Curse or Cure (400-1500), Scholars and Sabbats (1500-1700), Secrecy and Ceremony (1700-1900), and Modern Magic (1900 onward). There is also a glossary at the back of the book. I was impressed by the number of subsections there were and how thorough the coverage is both in terms of history and geography.
Most topics got a 2 page spread, with a few getting 4 pages. Occasionally side information would get its own spread, like images of fetishes or amulets from different cultures or the meanings of rune stones and how to use them for divination.
I would have liked to learn more about indigenous African beliefs. The authors did a good job of trying to differentiate between magical practices, superstition, and religions still being practiced (which only showed up as they intersected with magical practices, like the Christian persecution of witches). I was impressed by the sheer breadth of information covered. Much of it I was familiar with, but there were sections, like Finnish native beliefs that I had never heard about.
There are a lot of excellent photographs and good use is made of box text diving into specific practices and practitioners that needed a bit more coverage.
I didn’t expect the modern sections to interest me as much as the ancient and medieval sections, but it was fascinating to see some practices return and others morph over time.
If you’re looking for a broad overview of magical practices, this is an excellent book.
August 16, 2020
* I was provided a free copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review*
It took me a while to finish this one because it’s a textbook, more than anything, and on an average person’s shelf, serves more as a reference book or a survey of occultism, witchcraft, or alternative spiritual practices from around the world.
I could see this as a great required text for an anthropology class, or a book on world magic. Most subjects get 2-3 pages, so there isn’t a lot of depth given to each subject � but it does start in prehistoric times and ends in the present day, and touches on magical, occult, or spiritual traditions from all over the world, so the author had to stick to just the basics.
There’s some great art and photography, and it’s a great starting point to help you figure out what you’d like to read about in greater detail. It also serves to show that magic and occultism has existed across cultures since (literally) the beginning of time � with or without the influence of other cultures. Sometimes, the overlap in colonialized cultures is evident, and in others, seems less so, but that may be due to the whitewashing of global history, rather than a lack of symbiotic influence.
While I wouldn’t exactly call this book a riveting read, I can see a lot of college courses and academic applications where it would be right at home. As it stands, it was interesting to read in 2-10 page chunks, and I’m glad to have it as a reference resource in my library.
It took me a while to finish this one because it’s a textbook, more than anything, and on an average person’s shelf, serves more as a reference book or a survey of occultism, witchcraft, or alternative spiritual practices from around the world.
I could see this as a great required text for an anthropology class, or a book on world magic. Most subjects get 2-3 pages, so there isn’t a lot of depth given to each subject � but it does start in prehistoric times and ends in the present day, and touches on magical, occult, or spiritual traditions from all over the world, so the author had to stick to just the basics.
There’s some great art and photography, and it’s a great starting point to help you figure out what you’d like to read about in greater detail. It also serves to show that magic and occultism has existed across cultures since (literally) the beginning of time � with or without the influence of other cultures. Sometimes, the overlap in colonialized cultures is evident, and in others, seems less so, but that may be due to the whitewashing of global history, rather than a lack of symbiotic influence.
While I wouldn’t exactly call this book a riveting read, I can see a lot of college courses and academic applications where it would be right at home. As it stands, it was interesting to read in 2-10 page chunks, and I’m glad to have it as a reference resource in my library.
May 31, 2021
This is a wonderfully broad and diverse introduction to all things occult. I was extremely impressed by its breadth, if not its depth. I was also delighted to see pages dedicated to Finnish and Sami shamanism! However, if you're already into mythology, magic, and the occult in general then this book will probably provide little to no new info for you. The pictures are great and this is certainly a beautiful book meant to sit on coffee tables, but it wasn't quite the historical narrative I was hoping for.
August 7, 2020
More of an introduction to a variety of people and topics over the course of history. Photos and quotes throughout.
January 11, 2022
Visually stunning, would be good as a coffee table book, covering a vast array of beliefs and rituals throughout human history. A bit more depth in some areas would have been an improvement but it gives a basic introduction to many areas that could lead to more in depth study elsewhere.
December 17, 2021
Awesome book!
April 22, 2022
Amazing book about how witches back then performed rituals and gives us a sense of realism about what happened back then! Also great detail about different artefacts they used and have also found over time.
October 24, 2024
It was interesting enough to listen to, but reading a physical copy would have been better. Learned some neat things.
March 17, 2024
Dowiedziałam się, że figurka Maryi jest dobrym talizmanem, ale jeśli ma Jezuska na rękach to +20 do ochrony
July 2, 2020
I don't know about you, but I spent a lot of my childhood flipping through DK Publishing's books, especially their encyclopedias. In fact, one of my favorite books growing up was their herbal remedies book, which I tracked down as an adult. I remember spending every single school trip to the middle school library flipping through the book. Even as a pre-teen, I was called to be a healer. Needless to say, when I saw that they were publishing a book on the history of magic, witchcraft, and the occult, I knew I needed to give the book a read, and I'm glad I did.
A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult is a short, beautifully illustrated history of magical practices around the world since the beginning of man. They cover everything in an unbiased way, completely free of judgment, which I greatly appreciated. Furthermore, this is a concise history book written by historians, not witches. In fact, the authors and consultants are all historians who have specifically studied historical occult practices, making them experts in the field. From Professor Suzannah Lipscomb, who wrote the forward, to Dr. Sophie Page who was consulted throughout the book, each person involved in the writing of A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult has extensively studied magical history from a historian's point of view. In fact, Dr. Sophie Page is well known in the history community for her extraordinary books on magic and witchcraft, particularly European medieval magic and astrology. Needless to say, this book is a refreshing historical take written by experts. I cannot say the same for history lessons in modern books on witchcraft, which are written by witches and often biased toward their personal beliefs.
Like all DK books, this one is beautifully illustrated, with pictures of artwork, crystals, herbs, amulets, and other magical objects from around the world. Each is captioned and explained, helping the reader decipher and interpret the meanings of what is being presented. Its an extremely easy read. Most people could probably flip through the book in a day or two, maybe even in a couple of hours if you really tried. While short, this book is an excellent introduction to magical practices around the world, both historically and in modern times. It is not, however, complete. Because of the breadth of knowledge they are discussing, most sections are very brief in their explanation. This does not, however, detract from the book. In fact, I found myself taking extensive notes on subjects I wished to learn more about. I have a list of 10-15 items I want to spend more time researching, specifically about Nordic traditions. You see, both my mother and father have Swedish and Norwegian roots, and I've felt a deep desire to trace these roots back to magical practices. This book provided me with a ton of great starting points that I am excited to pursue. If you too are wondering where your magical studies should go, I strongly encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. It's a great foundation for adults and children alike to figure out which magical practices speak to them as well as a great way to learn the history of modern practices. This gives context and meaning to our work that is otherwise lacking.
I did have one issue with the book: the use of the word g*psy. I know this was likely unintentional and much of the world does not see this word as a slur, but I was disappointed nonetheless considering the context the word was used in. Despite this, I still absolutely loved the book, and highly recommend it to new and seasoned witches alike. You may be surprised by what you learn throughout the pages. A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult is set to be released on August 17th, 2020, but you can preorder a copy of the book now!
Post Date: June 3rd, 2020 at
A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult is a short, beautifully illustrated history of magical practices around the world since the beginning of man. They cover everything in an unbiased way, completely free of judgment, which I greatly appreciated. Furthermore, this is a concise history book written by historians, not witches. In fact, the authors and consultants are all historians who have specifically studied historical occult practices, making them experts in the field. From Professor Suzannah Lipscomb, who wrote the forward, to Dr. Sophie Page who was consulted throughout the book, each person involved in the writing of A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult has extensively studied magical history from a historian's point of view. In fact, Dr. Sophie Page is well known in the history community for her extraordinary books on magic and witchcraft, particularly European medieval magic and astrology. Needless to say, this book is a refreshing historical take written by experts. I cannot say the same for history lessons in modern books on witchcraft, which are written by witches and often biased toward their personal beliefs.
Like all DK books, this one is beautifully illustrated, with pictures of artwork, crystals, herbs, amulets, and other magical objects from around the world. Each is captioned and explained, helping the reader decipher and interpret the meanings of what is being presented. Its an extremely easy read. Most people could probably flip through the book in a day or two, maybe even in a couple of hours if you really tried. While short, this book is an excellent introduction to magical practices around the world, both historically and in modern times. It is not, however, complete. Because of the breadth of knowledge they are discussing, most sections are very brief in their explanation. This does not, however, detract from the book. In fact, I found myself taking extensive notes on subjects I wished to learn more about. I have a list of 10-15 items I want to spend more time researching, specifically about Nordic traditions. You see, both my mother and father have Swedish and Norwegian roots, and I've felt a deep desire to trace these roots back to magical practices. This book provided me with a ton of great starting points that I am excited to pursue. If you too are wondering where your magical studies should go, I strongly encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. It's a great foundation for adults and children alike to figure out which magical practices speak to them as well as a great way to learn the history of modern practices. This gives context and meaning to our work that is otherwise lacking.
I did have one issue with the book: the use of the word g*psy. I know this was likely unintentional and much of the world does not see this word as a slur, but I was disappointed nonetheless considering the context the word was used in. Despite this, I still absolutely loved the book, and highly recommend it to new and seasoned witches alike. You may be surprised by what you learn throughout the pages. A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult is set to be released on August 17th, 2020, but you can preorder a copy of the book now!
Post Date: June 3rd, 2020 at
August 18, 2020
The Wide World of Occult History
I have studied the occult and metaphysics for over 30 years, and I don't think I've ever seen such a comprehensive look at the history of magic and the occult. While, of course, this is not a deep dive into any particular topic, the breadth of this work is quite stunning. It is divided into 5 time periods, from prehistory to the modern age. It looks at the beliefs and practices of different cultures and religions (including early paganism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, etc.) over time, occasionally spotlighting a particular person or group of people or some other big moment in the history of magic, witchcraft, and the occult, like the Salem witch trials and or pervasive occultism that hides in plain view, like the spirit of Christmas. While the book is mostly Eurocentric after the prehistory section, it does look at the various practices from the Middle and Far East, the Americas, and Africa to a lesser extent. Some topics cannot be simply proscribed to a religion or particular country, and these are explored as well, like the idea of “cunning folk.�
The roots of practices we still see today are explored, like the various branches of astrology, tarot, and runes. Movements are explored as well, like spiritualism. Of course, there are several spreads just about the persecution of witches in different time periods. Hidden societies are also touched upon, like Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry. As with most DK books, this book is full of images, many of which I've seen before but others that were completely new to me. We see ancient sculpture, medieval and Renaissance paintings, and photographs from the modern age. Honestly, I found this a fascinating read. I had picked up bits and pieces of magical history over time, of course, but it was nice to see so many things in one book and so wonderfully illustrated. The book also has a four-page glossary and an extensive index to help you find just the piece of information that you want to find. However, most of the topics in this book are so fascinating that I suggest just jumping in and starting to read! Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
I have studied the occult and metaphysics for over 30 years, and I don't think I've ever seen such a comprehensive look at the history of magic and the occult. While, of course, this is not a deep dive into any particular topic, the breadth of this work is quite stunning. It is divided into 5 time periods, from prehistory to the modern age. It looks at the beliefs and practices of different cultures and religions (including early paganism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, etc.) over time, occasionally spotlighting a particular person or group of people or some other big moment in the history of magic, witchcraft, and the occult, like the Salem witch trials and or pervasive occultism that hides in plain view, like the spirit of Christmas. While the book is mostly Eurocentric after the prehistory section, it does look at the various practices from the Middle and Far East, the Americas, and Africa to a lesser extent. Some topics cannot be simply proscribed to a religion or particular country, and these are explored as well, like the idea of “cunning folk.�
The roots of practices we still see today are explored, like the various branches of astrology, tarot, and runes. Movements are explored as well, like spiritualism. Of course, there are several spreads just about the persecution of witches in different time periods. Hidden societies are also touched upon, like Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry. As with most DK books, this book is full of images, many of which I've seen before but others that were completely new to me. We see ancient sculpture, medieval and Renaissance paintings, and photographs from the modern age. Honestly, I found this a fascinating read. I had picked up bits and pieces of magical history over time, of course, but it was nice to see so many things in one book and so wonderfully illustrated. The book also has a four-page glossary and an extensive index to help you find just the piece of information that you want to find. However, most of the topics in this book are so fascinating that I suggest just jumping in and starting to read! Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
July 31, 2024
In the beginning, the information within this book was very interesting. I really appreciated the idea that I would be learning more about the history of witchcraft, practices of centuries, and the evolution of it all. Most of the information at the start was drawing me in, but it was lacking the depth I was looking for and not only that but the pages about the subjects would only be at least 2 pages long and nearly all of those pages have huge pictures taking up all the space so you are really just only reading about 4 paragraphs each page about topics that require full length books to even scratch the surface of those said topics.
This book holds so much misinformation and doesn’t explain much. They literally treat Wicca as though it is witchcraft when they are both 2 different things and meanings. If they managed to mix those 2 up, it makes me wonder what else they mixed up.
If you want a book that mostly talks and actually goes in full depth about magicians (like the rabbit in the hat type) and secret societies/cults, also only mentions people who were clearly going through high levels of psychosis yet calls them “important figures of the start of witchcraft� then this book is most definitely for you.
Overall this book and the writers interpretations feel extremely off to me, and you can really tell that they aren’t actual practitioners. They don’t even mention their references from where they found their research from. They only state there they found their pictures from.🍅🍅🍅
This book holds so much misinformation and doesn’t explain much. They literally treat Wicca as though it is witchcraft when they are both 2 different things and meanings. If they managed to mix those 2 up, it makes me wonder what else they mixed up.
If you want a book that mostly talks and actually goes in full depth about magicians (like the rabbit in the hat type) and secret societies/cults, also only mentions people who were clearly going through high levels of psychosis yet calls them “important figures of the start of witchcraft� then this book is most definitely for you.
Overall this book and the writers interpretations feel extremely off to me, and you can really tell that they aren’t actual practitioners. They don’t even mention their references from where they found their research from. They only state there they found their pictures from.🍅🍅🍅
December 2, 2021
So, for anyone that's wanting to have a brief overview of multiple practices around the world, from different time periods, different forms of divination relevant to different practices this is your book.
I had this on audible, but I will be getting the hardback copy too because it's a fantastic reference starting point.
With most information all referenced, with a fantastic glossary in the back, it's a great reference book for your own research.
While I did enjoy this book, the author regularly went through folk and witchcraft as we know it, to commercial magicians & illusionists... that I found weird and wondered if they truly had any part of being in a book about occultism... anyway...
I did enjoy this book, its not overwhelming but it does spark wanting to learn more, which for a contextual reference book, that's exactly the goal!
I had this on audible, but I will be getting the hardback copy too because it's a fantastic reference starting point.
With most information all referenced, with a fantastic glossary in the back, it's a great reference book for your own research.
While I did enjoy this book, the author regularly went through folk and witchcraft as we know it, to commercial magicians & illusionists... that I found weird and wondered if they truly had any part of being in a book about occultism... anyway...
I did enjoy this book, its not overwhelming but it does spark wanting to learn more, which for a contextual reference book, that's exactly the goal!
August 13, 2020
I enjoyed this book immensely!! I enjoyed the clear and concise history of all things magical. I enjoyed the vivid and colorful pictures that accompanied this book. It was a great book! I voluntarily read this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 20, 2024
would get the actual book rather than the audiobook but still decent without the pictures
December 24, 2021
I have yet to have a DK book disappoint. Susanna Lipscomb, is a professor of history at the University of Roehampton, a fellow of the royal historical society, and a fellow of the higher education academy. She helped bring this book together. Its a large book with a good amount of info but don't be afraid to do further research.
Consultants and contributors include:
Dr. Sophie Page. An associate professor in history at UCL.
Thomas Cussans. A freelance historian and author.
John Farndon. A royal literary fellow at Angela Ruskin university in Cambridge.
Ann Kay. A writer and editor with an MA in art history.
Philip Parker. A historian and former British diplomat who studied at Cambridge.
�
-ancient roots, pre-history to 400 CE-
The book starts out with a section about ancient Egyptian magic in mythology (Thoth, burials, book of the dead), then into ancient Hebrew magic (Tanakh, the witch of Endor), Persian magic, Greek, Roman, Healing plants, then Chinese magic (Wu, Weidan, Feng Shui), Japanese Magic, Hindu, Mayan.
-Curse or Cure 400 to 1500-
As a science began to prevail witchcraft and sorcery came under scrutiny.
-Scholars and Sabbats 1500 to 1700-
Cats are the most commonly reported which is familiar, there was even a mid evil legend that the devil himself had created them by accident.
Religion played a role in the story of Saito science and produce science, being a vital ingredient in magical thought by contributing to such thinking it also helped foster the early development of natural science.
The Lesser Key of Solomon. The False Monarchy of Demons. De praestigiis daemonum. Life and Death of Doctor Faustus.
-Secrecy and Ceremony 1700 to 1900-
History of tarot. History of Father Christmas. Golden dawn.
-Modern Magic 1900 onward-
Modern witchcraft. Thelema (Greek for “will�). Divination Runes. “The function of magic is to ritualize man’s optimism.�
�
“Magic is a topic around which Miss information swirls, like mists around a witches cauldron. The spellbound in book with the spell the fog, lift the enchantment, and vivid Lee illuminate this perennially fascinating subject.�
Consultants and contributors include:
Dr. Sophie Page. An associate professor in history at UCL.
Thomas Cussans. A freelance historian and author.
John Farndon. A royal literary fellow at Angela Ruskin university in Cambridge.
Ann Kay. A writer and editor with an MA in art history.
Philip Parker. A historian and former British diplomat who studied at Cambridge.
�
-ancient roots, pre-history to 400 CE-
The book starts out with a section about ancient Egyptian magic in mythology (Thoth, burials, book of the dead), then into ancient Hebrew magic (Tanakh, the witch of Endor), Persian magic, Greek, Roman, Healing plants, then Chinese magic (Wu, Weidan, Feng Shui), Japanese Magic, Hindu, Mayan.
-Curse or Cure 400 to 1500-
As a science began to prevail witchcraft and sorcery came under scrutiny.
-Scholars and Sabbats 1500 to 1700-
Cats are the most commonly reported which is familiar, there was even a mid evil legend that the devil himself had created them by accident.
Religion played a role in the story of Saito science and produce science, being a vital ingredient in magical thought by contributing to such thinking it also helped foster the early development of natural science.
The Lesser Key of Solomon. The False Monarchy of Demons. De praestigiis daemonum. Life and Death of Doctor Faustus.
-Secrecy and Ceremony 1700 to 1900-
History of tarot. History of Father Christmas. Golden dawn.
-Modern Magic 1900 onward-
Modern witchcraft. Thelema (Greek for “will�). Divination Runes. “The function of magic is to ritualize man’s optimism.�
�
“Magic is a topic around which Miss information swirls, like mists around a witches cauldron. The spellbound in book with the spell the fog, lift the enchantment, and vivid Lee illuminate this perennially fascinating subject.�
November 6, 2021
DK is known for its layouts filled with photographs and images that add to the information being presented, and this book was no different. Filled with images from primary sources as well as photographs of artifacts. They covered many of the major historical sources and theories as well as historical figures throughout time.
The first thing I noticed about the book was that while it mentioned primary sources in text it had no other bibliography to speak of. Not all of the information would have come from the sources mentioned so where else are they getting their information? It also feels as though each section is researched and written by someone different. While the book did really well on their voodoo section, I question why earlier a “voodoo doll� was mentioned when they tell you that voodoo does not use dolls. When picking this book up I recommend taking with a healthy dose of salt everything from Wicca onwards. They make it seem as though Wicca and Neo-Pagans are all the same and their section of heathenry focuses only on the unfortunate use of the religion in the spread of nationalist propaganda in Germany. They also note a traditional witchcraft tool as coming from Wicca when in reality only some Wiccan sects adopted it from Robert Cochranes traditional witchcraft tradition (the Stang). Theres also the neo- shamanism section which ALMOST includes Native American practices, but only due to one of the images they include.
Overall I think this is a decent book. I wish they had tried to delve beyond surface level with the modern sections and I’d recommend probably not reading anything past the Wicca portion, though the Chaos magic portion was decent. This book is like a more in depth Wikipedia article where it’s mostly an overview and should more be used as a jumping off point for more research. Not worth the $35 USD that I paid for it at Barnes and Nobles.
The first thing I noticed about the book was that while it mentioned primary sources in text it had no other bibliography to speak of. Not all of the information would have come from the sources mentioned so where else are they getting their information? It also feels as though each section is researched and written by someone different. While the book did really well on their voodoo section, I question why earlier a “voodoo doll� was mentioned when they tell you that voodoo does not use dolls. When picking this book up I recommend taking with a healthy dose of salt everything from Wicca onwards. They make it seem as though Wicca and Neo-Pagans are all the same and their section of heathenry focuses only on the unfortunate use of the religion in the spread of nationalist propaganda in Germany. They also note a traditional witchcraft tool as coming from Wicca when in reality only some Wiccan sects adopted it from Robert Cochranes traditional witchcraft tradition (the Stang). Theres also the neo- shamanism section which ALMOST includes Native American practices, but only due to one of the images they include.
Overall I think this is a decent book. I wish they had tried to delve beyond surface level with the modern sections and I’d recommend probably not reading anything past the Wicca portion, though the Chaos magic portion was decent. This book is like a more in depth Wikipedia article where it’s mostly an overview and should more be used as a jumping off point for more research. Not worth the $35 USD that I paid for it at Barnes and Nobles.
May 24, 2020
A history of Magic, Witchcraft & the Occult presents a sweeping survey of the ways in which humans have tried to exert control over their lives starting with aligned stone works, cave paintings, fertility rites, and burial rituals. This ambitious book is crammed with full-color illustrations and photos of hundreds of pieces of magical material culture from throughout world through the ages. It is also generously sprinkled with brief quotations from primary sources. Its strength is the way it displays how deeply engrained magic, witchcraft and the occult are in human culture. This is a good introductory book about the historic panorama of magic. The illustrations are interesting, and the tidbits of information are fascinating. It also offers much for students of the occult. A long-time fan of the supernatural, I learned for the first time that the Greeks had spell books and that divination by viewing anomalies in entrails is termed extispicy. I also learned that the first depiction of witches as ugly and evil old women comes from Roman literature, which describes a disgusting hag who eats children. On the other hand, I would have liked to have read a passing mention in the alchemy section that the great work of turning lead into gold is often seen a metaphor for the purification of the soul. I would also have liked to have seen a distinction drawn between Wicca and witchcraft and bit more about the resurgence of neo paganism in the past decade that reflected back upon Suzannah Lipscomb’s must-read introduction.
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January 10, 2021This was a fascinating listen that included information from the far reaches of history all the way to present day. Touching upon many different aspects from religions long ago, the witch trials, history of Tarot, and so much more. The Podcast 'Stuff You Missed in History Class' had an episode regarding the history of Tarot in October of 2020 and 'Bones and Bobbins' another podcast has been focusing quite a bit about Witchcraft, since the hosts are Witches. That brought about an interest in me, I found it interesting to listen to this overview of the history of Witchcraft. If you have a specific interest, Witch Bottles (Bones and Bobbins), or Tarot you would be better off listening to the podcasts. There are several interesting books that cover the Salem Witch Trials, the ones that I have listened to are very good at covering and explaining the Witchfinder General.
I enjoyed listening to this audio book as a way to touch upon ancient religions and beliefs as they relate to certain practices today. If you are unwilling to listen to the history of other theologies, then this is not the book for you.
I enjoyed listening to this audio book as a way to touch upon ancient religions and beliefs as they relate to certain practices today. If you are unwilling to listen to the history of other theologies, then this is not the book for you.
March 28, 2021
To start, this may be unfair, but this book really doesn't work as an audiobook. The physical copy looks great at the store, so if you want to do some introductory research into the history of magic, pick up a physical copy if you're able (and if it's accessible to you).
The book is an expansive survey that brushes the surface of a lot of occult practices through history and spans the globe. That is both its strength and weakness. I love seeing inclusivity in researching non-Christian-Judeo religions and beliefs, but there's so much content that the author really can't go in depth into any of the topics, all of which are quite interesting. It's especially jarring when you're listening to the audiobook, since the narrator jumps from paragraph to what I can assume are textbook like fact boxes and it's difficult to visualize the coherence between the different subjects. When she transitioned into reading the glossary, for example, it sounded like the rest of the book.
I think I may have picked up tidbits here and there, but overall, knowledge-wise, it feels like a wash. Could be a great primer for beginner researchers into the topic though, as it is quite extensive.
The book is an expansive survey that brushes the surface of a lot of occult practices through history and spans the globe. That is both its strength and weakness. I love seeing inclusivity in researching non-Christian-Judeo religions and beliefs, but there's so much content that the author really can't go in depth into any of the topics, all of which are quite interesting. It's especially jarring when you're listening to the audiobook, since the narrator jumps from paragraph to what I can assume are textbook like fact boxes and it's difficult to visualize the coherence between the different subjects. When she transitioned into reading the glossary, for example, it sounded like the rest of the book.
I think I may have picked up tidbits here and there, but overall, knowledge-wise, it feels like a wash. Could be a great primer for beginner researchers into the topic though, as it is quite extensive.
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