Someone loaned me this book. I found it a good for nights when I needed some dry reading to help me fall asleep. This is what is known as an "armchair" occullt book. A book for those who want to read or research such things for historical or fiction-writing reference. I bought Agrippa's works instead.

The Magus is an occult work that is a "must have" by anypracticing occultists. It consists of a truly completesystem covering such important topics as Natural magic, Alchemy, mgical numerology, cabalistic magic and spiritual evocation. Within this structure it includes the important information of magical tool construction and consecration. Fracis Barrett was truly an educated occultist and drew this system from a numerous amount of sources. For the beginning magician it is a neccessity, as for the advanced, well you should already have this book.

Many people have written very dispariging remarks about The Magus, or Celestial Intelligencer [first published in 1801]. They probley write such knowagable insights about another auther as well - the Most Honored Counsellor to King Charles the Fifth, and a Judge of the Prerogative Court...Henry Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim. Agrippa lived around 500 years ago, and he wrote a book that is still having an impact today - 'The Three Books of Occult Philosophy'. It is the standard by which all other magical tomes are judged, and The Magus is no exception. The fact that Barrett basterdized the 'Three Books' is well known. But keep in mind, the 'Three Books' had long since fell into obscurity (300 years old by Barretts reconing) and there were no other tomes of any worth (save perhaps Johann Weyer's 'De praestigiis daemonum'). Also keep in mind the timeframe Barrett was living in (1801): 25 years after the American Revolution, 11 years after the first French Revolution, 2 years after George Washingtons death, the Marquis de Sade was still alive then, and Napolion was comming into power. Barrett did an outstanding job, concidering. His book stated the 'modern day magic movement' and directly influenced Eliphas Levi, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, Aleister Crowley, and so-on. Its impact was enormass, regardless of the glaring inconcistances (and errors) in the text, tables, and with the glyphs. Its history alone make it a book to be respected and admired. Sincerly, Shawn W. Ooten

Francis Barrett plagarized 100% of this book from Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy, so there is some good information present, but none of it is original. (well, maybe some of the interesting illustrations) So if you're interested in the full story, seek out Agrippa (though do not buy Kessinger's version. For some reason they only include the first book, but still call it "Three Books of Occult Philosophy". Buy Llewellyn's--it's a beautiful production.)