This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever seen.

Let me start off by saying that I'm a huge fan of this book publisher Taschen. If you go to any book store and find yourself flipping through some spectacularly illustrated book that seems very cutting edge, there is a good chance it is a Taschen. Taschen is a company led by Benedikt and Angelika (last name: Taschen!). These people are pure and simple revolutionaries. I've been collecting books for close to 20 years, and it has really only been with the advent of Taschen that I've found myself excited by anything newly published.

This book specifically: Does the price seem a little spendy?? To the contrary. If you buy it you will be so utterly astonished at the imposing size and the overall high quality that you will find it to be the best bargain of your bargain-hunting and book-buying lifespan. This book is a work of art in its own right. The content is fabulous: spectacular color plates that reveal nature as the most creative (if not downright psychedelic) of artists. It truly is amazing to see a display of awe-inspiring bio-diversity documented in this fashion. If you are not an eager advocate for the environment, you very well may become one upon flipping through these pages. It is impossible to not feel affection for these various small and beautiful creatures, and one feels a mandate to recognize their rightful place on the planet when you have them introduced to you in this fashion. I would personally buy a copy of this for George W. Bush if I could rest assured that he would flip through every page if only once. He would have to re-examine his approach to the planet as a result, or he simply is not human.

Okay, one gripe, one mistake I see Taschen making: a book of this magnitude needs a cloth or "buckram" cover, not a mere "finished cardboard" cover. The cover is nicely decorated and textured, but it is essentially of the same quality as a Dr. Suess book. It is the only aspect of the book where Taschen has cut a corner in an obvious attempt to save money. It is sad that they did so. I think Taschen needs to keep the quality of the bindings high and traditional. Taschen content is so innovative and progressive that they don't need to get too clever with the covers. I have another Taschen book with a "shiny cardboard cover"; it appears to be coated with some type of plastic or resin. Already, after only two years or so, it is making creaking noises when you open it. I envision after a few more years those synthetic molecules quite simply giving up and the entire book falling apart in my hands. Taschen, listen up: most of us are happy to spend a few bucks more for top quality all the way across. This "Cabinet of Curiosities" in particular is insulted by the compromise cover. But despite this caveat, I can not imagine any enlightened person being anything other than fully blown-away by this book. It truly doesn't get much better than this in the world of contemporary books.

I saw this huge beautiful book at a store today and nearly bought it on a whim -
even with the $150 price tag. Then I thought I'd check on Amazon
and maybe get it at a discount - no such luck.
They said they don't discount such hard-to-find titles. Well, it's certainly not hard to
find, as it is published by Taschen, and any decent bookstore has plenty of Taschen
books. It is however huge, and expensive, so there's the trouble. Here is some info on the
book directly from the publishers:

Albertus Seba's "Cabinet of Curiosities" is one of the 18th
century's greatest natural history achievements and remains one
of the most prized natural history books of all time.

Though it was common for men of his profession to collect natural
specimens for research purposes, Amsterdam-based pharmacist
Albertus Seba (1665-1736) had a passion that led him far beyond
the call of duty. His amazing, unprecedented collection of animals,
plants and insects from all around the world gained international
fame during his lifetime. In 1731, after decades of collecting, Seba
commissioned illustrations of each and every specimen and
arranged the publication of a four-volume catalog detailing his
entire collection-from strange and exotic plants to snakes, frogs,
crocodiles, shellfish, corals, insects, butterflies and more, as well
as fantastic beasts, such as a hydra and a dragon.

Seba's scenic illustrations, often mixing plants and animals in a
single plate, were unusual even for the time. Many of the stranger
and more peculiar creatures from Seba's collection, some of which
are now extinct, were as curious to those in Seba's day as they
are to us now.

Our superb, complete reproduction is taken from a rare,
hand-colored original. The introduction offers background
information about the fascinating tradition of the cabinet of
curiosities to which Seba's curiosities belonged and an additional
annex, written by contemporary biologists, provides descriptions of
the specimens.

I'll most likely save my dollars until I can buy this without feeling too guilty: By the way - it's 646 pages and about 18 inches high.

First written in 1543, The Bondage And Liberation Of The Will: A Defence Of The Orthodox Doctrine Of Human Choice Against Pighius is an English translation by G. I. Davies of one of John Calvin's profound theological works concerning the relationship between grace and free will. Astutely edited with meticulous notes by A. N. S. Lane (Director of Research and Senior Lecturer in Christian Doctrine at the London Bible College), The Bondage And Liberation Of The Will is an historically important and influential treatise of religious and historical significance, and one which is very strongly recommended for Christian Studies theological reference and resource shelves.

This is an excellent debate on free will and predestiantion. it is extremely scholaraly and Calvin is more nuanced and complex than Luther. this book centers around Augustinian thought, as both Rome and the Reformers claimed him as their champion on this issue. Calvin showed conclusively, that Augustine sided with the reformers and solidified the reformation as something not novel, but as a spokesman for Augustine on the treatment of the will and the sinful state of man. The Reformation, it has been said, was the victory of Augustine's thoughts on salvation over Augustine's thoughts of the church.

This is an excellent review of the response of Calvin to A. Pighius and the debates of the 1540's concerning the Will of Man, and Predestination. This work covers many areas not covered in other English Translations of Calvin's works, and is very informative concerning Calvin's treatment of the relation between grace and free will.

Let me economize on words by saying that this book is a wonderful companion for the Albertist or any scholar concerned with Faith & Science. The editor was Father Weisheipl, an Albertist and Scholastic of first-rate credentials. You will do well to buy this book...

scholastically yours, al pinto - Albertus Magnus Publishers...

I can only comment on the material pertaining to aquatic animals in this translation. And my comments are limited as those of an ichthyologist who knows only a little Latin. It is a cliche but Magnus was a candle in the darkness of the Middle Ages. As such he deserves a modern English translation. Furthermore this is a scholarly annoted edition. The species allocations for Magnus animals have been systematically considered and whilst there will be alternative interpretations, the evidence for Drs Reznick and Kitchell's positions is always sound. This is an essential tome for anyone interested in the development of biological (especially ichthyological) thought in Europe.

A wonderful text for the magician and the student of occult texts. Michael Best and Frank Brightman who edited and translated this edition give a scholarly intro and many footnotes along the way which are insightful and accurate. The Book of Secrets which has been translated many times in many languages throughout the years. Totaling 5 books: herbs; stones; beasts; marvels and planets. Each giving their mysterious compenents and each elements use in magic. I speculated the use and reality of some of these 'potions' in which one can make dogs stop barking at you, or turn invisible. However, one cant help but be intrigued and curious about some of these findings. I would guess that, due to its alchemical nature of the volume, that, like alchemy itself and the language of alchemy, it is written in a similar format, one of which is written in code and metaphor than for literate meanings and intents. Each one laid out in a clear and simple formula, what the potion does and what to do to achieve those results. Best and Brightman both argue the authenticity of the book, in that is was probably not written by Albertus Magnus himself who lived in the 1200's, but rather speculated to have been written sometime in the 1600's by a follower, based on the colloquial language of the text, where many books have been attributed to Albertus Magnus for the purpose of selling the book with a popular author. Definately a good book to add to anyones occult and magick library, as well as those that study witchcraft.

As an Albertist for over ten years now, please do accept my judgement on this book where it may be found. As publisher of the only Complete Works of Albertus Magnus, I was delighted to read this translated summary from Albert's Opera Omnia. Amazon is offering another work, much fuller in scope on the De Animalibus of Albert, but I have not read it yet. Still, that is probably a very good offering as well (as Father Wallace O.P., the fine Dominican Scholar, guided Ken Kitchell, editing author of the newer work).

Scholastically yours, al pinto - Albertus Magnus Publishers

A how-to book of Alchemy seems unheard of, but here it is! Written by Frater Albertus in the 60's, director of the (now closed down as of 1984) Paracelsus Research Society. The book acts as an introduction to the world of Alchemy, describing its process as well as the symbols employed in Alchemical nomenclature. While it may take a couple of readings to really and truly grasp it, the real learning takes place in the laboratory. Frater Albertus is clear in his meaning and attemts not to confuse the reading by falling to far into the mystical language of the alchemists. The only drawback that I personally had with this book is the M.S. of the "Wisdom of the Sages" installed after Albertus' own writings. The M.S. was written in 1777 written in Latin and German (here translated for you). The content is fine and dandy, however, if I wanted to read an alchemical text, I would not have bought this book to do so. There are plenty of ancient and medieval alchemical texts in print now where I can easily pick one up, however, this book's intention was to learn the art and practice of alchemy in its clearest unobtrusive language. Furthermore, the book is a little more than 100 pages, while the M.S. covers 40 of those pages - almost half the book. So this was disappointing when I wanted to read more of what Frater Albertus had to say. So if you are interested in Alchemy and want a glimmer of light into its practice, I highly reccomend this book, save the last portion of it.

The Alchemist's Handbook by Frater Albertus is quite possibly the greatest and most concise piece of work on practical laboratory Alchemy known to man. Within a mere 124 pages, the author explains in detail the processes by which any would-be Alchemist may create herbal elixers. The process is simple and can be learned quickly and inexpensively. Mastering the Great Art that is Alchemy, however, takes significantly longer (I myself have been practicing for many years and still have not mastered it). Frater Albertus does not, thankfully, fall into a deep and penatrating discussion of each elixer and its properties(of which there would be thousands), but rather explains how to create them and leaves the aspiring Alchemist to practice, study, ponder and create. In doing so, he insures that those who would like to venture into the Great Art have the capacity to learn it for themselves.

This is an excellent instruction in Alchemy. I find myself coming back to it again and again. It describes the art in-depth better than some books twice it's size, and some larger than that. Everything you need to create herbal remedies using an Alchemy lab.

Frater Albertus is undoubtedly the most famous practical alchemist and instructor of alchemy in this century. Learning his trade in the old Rosicrucian Order (AMORC) alchemy classes of the 1940's, Albertus established a school for the practical instruction of alchemy that ran from 1960 until slightly after his death in 1984. In "Praxis Spagyrica Philosophica" Albertus goes beyond his previous work, "The Alchemists Handbook" and through the commentary begins to show the reader how to turn old and somewhat confusing alchemical manuscripts into useful pieces of laboratory instruction. In "From One to Ten" Albertus demonstrates the progression of energy to matter from the subtle to dense realms. While not ideal reading for beginners, it is worth the time and trouble to read and meditate upon. Anyone intersted in practical alchemy must read Albertus.

Having been an Albertist for over ten years, and as publisherof the only Complete Works of Saint Albert worldwide ( ), please beassured that this book is just another fabrication of certain ideologists who would like to make a sorcerer out of a Saint.

There are countless copies of bogus works claiming occult science and attributed to Albertus Magnus. The purpose of these books has been to lead many readers by seduction into the world of the occult: namely, by giving the lie that such works were authored by a traditional Christian scholar and somehow or other approved for licit transmission to future scholars.

Having studied the many fabrications, one is just astounded at how dull and stupid the actual works are once investigated. Whereas, after studying the actual Corpus of Saint Albert, the Opera Omnia, one is moreso astounded by the height and breadth and depth of Albert's omniscienced wisdom...

For as a contemporary of Saint Albert could say: He was a man so divine in every science that he is rightly called the wonder and miracle of our time! The same remains true even today - but only in the Complete Works that deserve to bear his name...

Scholastically yours, Albert Pinto ( )

I am personally not into Albertus Magnus or "Egyptian Secrets". I should, however, point out that the purpose of this book is not so much to prove or disprove whether or not Albertus was a saint or sorcorer, but is simply a translations of an early 1800's grimiore, nothing more, or nothing less. Therefore, the qaulity of this book should not be judged on the authenticity of the sorcerers ideas surrounding the origins of their magical teachings in the 1800's, but as a representation of the type of magic practiced by sorcerors in early America, regaurdless what these wizards thought this magic came from. I should also point out that the magic presented in this book is basically goetic/hermetic magic, and that there was in fact both coptic(egyptian) and greek translations found in both the Kemetic and the Mediterrainian lands. More details on this subject can be found in Seven Faces of Darkness by Don Webb and Hermetic Magic by Stephen Flowers, both of which I found interesting from a scholarly point of veiw. Therefore, I suggest that one should be weary of the ratings of the Xtian below.

This particular book, though out-of-print, I consider to be the epitome of the Alchemists work. This work allows the reader to find his or her own way to bridge the gap between regular science and metaphysics. The author makes note of the fact that the Alchemists of the past are todays chemists and the astrologers of the past are todays astronomers. Perhaps with more titles such as this we can make physics out of meta-physics. If you can garner a copy I would highly recommend it for the serious scholar of the meta-sciences.