A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult by D.K. Publishing

A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult Reviews

• 
  ✨Bean's Books✨

  Absolutely amazing book! ❤️
• 
  Jasmin

  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.
  
• 
  McKenzie

  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.
• 
  Katie (DoomKittieKhan)

  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.
• 
  Verónica Fleitas Solich

  Starting point for further investigation.
  At times too vague for my taste.
• 
  Brooke

  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.
• 
  Natalia

  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.
• 
  Allie Marini

  * 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.
• 
  Geneva

  Very informative, helped me build up my basic understanding while referencing additional materials to deepen my understanding of witchcraft, wicca and magic.
  
  Many primary resources, using artifacts to show practices and art to display cultural impact, it feel less like a text book and more like a beautifully written and detailed picture book. As a visual person, seeing directly how things tied in helped me understand the concepts deeper.
  
  My only downside is that sometimes the chronological order felt off, more towards the last two sections. I think it can be hard to separate out things that happened within the last 120 years out into separate sections, so I understand how difficult it can be to organize the information effectively.
• 
  Xan Rooyen

  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.
• 
  Tracey Everett

  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.
• 
  Elbia

  Awesome book!
• 
  Ellie

  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.
• 
  Lesley L

  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
  http://www.flyingthehedge.com/2020/06...
• 
  Jamie Jack

  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.
• 
  Helena

  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!
• 
  Christina

  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.
• 
  K

  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.”
• 
  Martha

  Like all DK books this has gorgeous illustrations and tries to cover a broad range of topics. As an introductory work, it is perfectly fine. But I have a number of problems with it as anything other than a rudimentary starting point.
  
  First, it is brutally Eurocentric. Almost all discussion of non-Western magic is restricted to the opening chapter on ancient magic, with a few asides on the Aztecs, Voodoo, and European reactions to magical traditions the "discovered." I know enough about East Asian religion to feel that this seriously neglects the ongoing development of ritual and folk magic in China, Korea, and Japan in favor of focusing heavily on European witch trials and hermetic traditions. I find those things interesting too, but there is much more to the world of magic.
  
  When examining Western esoteric traditions it's also telling what they sometimes leave out. Theosophy gets one page with nary a word on their racist theories of "root races" related to Lemuria and Atlantis, or the debacle of Krishnamurti (the child they declared to be their messiah who grew up to reject the claim). When examining non-Western traditions, it's telling what they get wrong, like when they lump Yoruba religion in with vodun (the two have similarities as neighboring nations but have key differences as well). So again, I stress that this book should be a starting point only - see what you're interested in, then look into more technical, detailed scholarship.
• 
  Jessica

  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.
• 
  Azahar

  Este libro nos habla de la magia, el ocultismo y la brujería a lo largo de la historia de la humanidad.
  
  Nos habla desde la mismísima prehistoria, pasando por costumbres, creencias y prácticas de diferentes culturas y en diferentes países, por la oscura época de quema de brujas y el renacer del ocultismo, hasta la actualidad.
  
  Nos presenta a la mayor parte de órdenes, grupos y movimientos ocultistas que han ido surgiendo a lo largo de los años. Nos da una introducción a la mayor parte de la historia de la brujería, sin profundizar demasiado pero sí lo suficiente como para entender y comprender lo que nos está presentando.
  
  Asimismo, nos aporta información extra con un sinfín de imágenes que apoyan el texto y amplían el conocimiento. Y si en algún momento sientes que quieres profundizar más en algún tema del que se habla en el libro, no te preocupes, el propio libro te aporta una gran cantidad de bibliografía a la que puedes acudir para aprender y profundizar más.
  
  La maquetación y la portada y contraportada es preciosa, lo único ""malo"" es que el papel es satinado y se mancha fácilmente de las huellas de los dedos.
• 
  Alan Braswell

  This book is an incredible experience as it delves into a chronologically history of man's search for the unknown. Before the time of Christ man's heart has been turned towards the evil. This richly annotated and illustrationed reference guide shows how that each subsequent generation or century is not immune to such searching for the unknown. The book ends with an up-to-date on the influence of the internet.
  There are well know suspects are highlighted in the book. Knights of the Templar, Masons, Illuminati, Wicca, and many more. And several others which do not have the notoriety as the ones mentioned above.
  Harry Potter fans will enjoy looking at the philosophers stone, the Mandrakes, deviations, different plants which used in spells and of course wands.
  There is a photo of a ring with runes written. Lord of the Rings?
  As one goes this rich book, films, novels come to mind.
  
  Thanks to DK publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
• 
  Ash

  I really enjoyed this book! I felt like it was a great starting point for someone who is interested in learning anything about magic, witchcraft, or the occult, and a very basic understanding of how the practice has changed through the years. I have been extremely curious about this subject and this was a wonderful introduction to the history that we know of. I am definitely interested in looking into more books to read about the topic!
  -
  The book is very centered on European and Asian magic and witchcraft that we know about from archeological finds and written history. There is not too much on other cultures and what "magic" is like in those cultures, but I am left to assume that it has something to do with a lack of knowledge and understanding and perhaps the desire to be respectful to those cultures. That would be the only negative I came across personally.
• 
  Mandy Rocha

  Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me a free digital ARC (e-book) of this title. I loved it! A HIstory of Magic, Witchcraft & the Occult by DK was a great read. I love books about the occult and I am proud to add this to my collection. It was interesting to learn about the different eras of magic and what ‘magic’ meant during different periods of history. From the origins of rituals during prehistoric times, to the medieval persecution of witches, and all the way up to the modern resurgence of pagan practices, this book covers so much of the history surrounding the occult arts. I really loved seeing the pieces of art that depicted witches and magic throughout history, and I loved all of the history even more.
• 
  A.L. Sirois

  As a former pagan (is one ever really a former pagan?). this book is pretty comprehensive but didn't tell me a lot I didn't already know from reading, practicing rites, and "drawing down the moon," as they say. Nonetheless, this is a fine book, with excellent illustrations, very well produced by the nice folks at DK Books, who as always have done a superior and comprehensive job. The sections include: Ancient Roots, Curse or Cure, Scholars and Sabbats, Secrecy and Ceremony, and Modern Magic, with lots of sub-sections among them. If you're looking for a good overview of the history of magic, this would be a rewarding place to start.