Lon Milo DuQuette, Allow Me To Introduce: an Insider's Guide to the Occult. Newbury, MA: Weiser Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781578636549.
Lon Milo DuQuette is a well known scholar and author on magick, esoterica, and on the life and work of Aleister Crowley, If you need someone to explain Crowley, DuQuette is the person for the job. In addition to his many books, DuQuette is often asked to write introductions for other authors. Allow Me To Introduce collects 28 of these introductory pieces. As a whole, these essays provide a good sampling of his writing and a broad picture of his interests and scholarly pursuits. These essays also provide a pretty good introduction to various topics in the occult and esoterica.
The book is arranged as follows:
- Foreword by Brandy Williams. Williams wrote Practical Magic for Beginners. (Link to WorldCat.)
- Preface.
- Part One: Teachers, Heroes, and Mentors.
- Part Two: Classics of Magick.
- Part Three: Qabalah and Tarot.
- Part Four: Thelemic Magick.
- Part Five: Enochian Magick.
- Part Six: Magical Masonry.
- Part Seven: Magical Miscellany.
Each part features two to six essays on the topic. Each essay includes a footnote that identifies the book or work that DuQuette is introducing. Introductory material is something many readers skip in the rush to get to the "actual book." If I need context on a book, I appreciate introductory materials.
The essays in the book are interesting overall. They are not always easy reading, especially if you do not have the extensive background in magick and esoterica, which as a still new learner I do not have yet. However, the material is fairly readable. The author is very good at breaking down ideas and explaining clearly, so I feel confident I could keep reading and learning.
If anything, this book may leave you wanting more. These essays are introductory material to other books, and DuQuette sets up the books quite well. You may want to go out and find some if not all of the books he is introducing. As Williams writes in the foreword, "reading the books in this list would constitute a mighty magical education" (xii.).
I found myself picking up the book to read whenever I had a moment, which is also a good sign. You don't have to read it cover to cover. As DuQuette writes, you can "jump around as interest and spirit moves" (xviii). I did read it cover to cover to write this review and because it was just that interesting. It was well worth it.
I would say this is a good book for folks wanting an introduction, an entry point into some key occult and esoteric topics. Read some of these essays then decide if you want to go deeper or not into the topics.
Libraries that collect occult and esoteric topics should add this to their collections. This is a book I would add to my personal library.
5 out of 5 stars.
Qualifies for the following 2024 Reading Challenge:
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