Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #594375 in Books
• Published on: 1989-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

From the Author
Who the book is for...
I wrote this book for absolute beginners in the occult and it has been used as a starter text by Neopagan and other Aquarian Age teachers for over twenty-five years (the one in print is the 1989 edition). It contains an extensive annotated bibliography of useful (and lousy!) books in the field, as well as my "Cult Danger Evaluation Frame" -- my most widely reprinted work.

Fundamentalists of any persuasion, including professional "debunkers," will not enjoy the book. Anyone with an open mind and an interest in understanding what people around the world have believed for centuries about magic and the "occult" will find it a useful guide.

For examples of my current writing and other creative projects, plus links to other Neopagan and Druidic websites, visit my website at

Customer Reviews

An intelligent, rational look at the practice of magick.
Real Magic is probably one of the first books onthe occult that I managed to read that wasn't pure fabrication. Bonewitts does a through job of explaning the way magick functions, describing other supernatural topics, and just generally entertaining the reader with amusing examples and stories. The book, despite the author's claim, is a little heavy for a beginner but not uncomprehendable. A definate read for those interested in the occult.

Interesting and informative -- has stood the test of time!

I'm only partway through this book, but I have to say that it's one of the best and most informative on the subject that I've come across. I found it basically by accident while browsing this site, recognized Bonewits' name from another site I'd visited, and decided to try out his book.

He doesn't use a particularly religious context in his approach, and in a way I think this is a good thing. As a solitary Wiccan I'm always looking for good printed source material, and there just isn't much out there that doesn't devolve into happy fuzzies at some point. Bonewits' book is a breath of fresh air that I'm sure I'll be referring to time and time again.

It's a little involved for beginners, but once you've got at least a passing familiarity with some of the topics he discusses (such as sympathetic magic, which I was doing for years before properly understanding what it was or even what it was called), you'll be well on your way.

Quite Simply ... The Finest Book on Magic Ever Written
This is the best, sanest and most entertaining book on magic(k) ever written. It should be compulsory reading for anyone with an interest in magic or mysticism. Not only that, but Bonewits' writing style makes it a thoroughly entertaining read. If your interest is academic, don't be put off by that statement. Being entertaining is no barrier to erudition. A fact that many academics could, with profit, take cognisance of ! Bonewits strips away all the mumbo jumbo and deals with the subject in a sane manner based on his own extensive studies and experimentation in the subject. Sometimes amusingly cynical, but never losing the thread. I was by turns laughing out loud and being amazed at some new insight. This book is a tour de force, and ... if you have an interest in the subject then please, PLEASE, read this book.