Aleister Crowley: Magick, Rock and Roll, and the Wickedest Man in the World

The author doesn't come right out and say he thinks Crowley was a charlatan but for most rational people that disclaimer shouldn't be necessary anyway. I'm glad I read this and now, having satisfied my curiosity, I doubt I will feel the need to revisit the subject of Aleister Crowley.

For me this was the best possible approach to the subject: the author avoids the extremes of redundant hectoring and leap of faith endorsement and so creates a narrative that sustains interest throughout.

This biography of Crowley does an adequate job of outlining the events of his life and public career. There is nothing special or new about the information it provides. Kaczynski’s Purdurabo, by way of contrast, does a much deeper dive into more painstaking detail. It is not the worst biography of the man. It ranks above Regardie’s Eye in the Triangle. On the plus side: I found Lachman’s writing style to be engaging. The book was difficult for me to put down. On the negative side: The author now and then takes on an unwarranted sneering and disparaging tone toward his subject. It seemed that he sometimes succumbed to the temptation to show that he was on the side of the angels (or at least conventional opinion) in condemning that show more bad, naughty, man. In that respect it reminded me a little of Ellic Howe’s book about the Golden Dawn. Howe was clearly fascinated by his subject but felt it necessary to give the reader the impression that he thought they were a bunch of credulous fools. show less