Do What Thou Wilt: A Life of Aleister Crowley

I've read a bit around occult topics but didn't know much at all about Crowley. This was a great book to get a reasonably complete high level survey of Crowley's life and work. It's quite chronological. It touches on Crowley's thinking but never goes very deep. We don't learn much about where Crowley might have gotten his ideas - well, of course, he'd joined the Golden Dawn, but how and why did he change those practices? We get brief appearance from e.g. Dion Fortune, but we don't see how her ideas developed in parallel to Crowley's.

Sutin's book is very much an introduction to Crowley. It's a great place to start. He points to folks like Israel Regardie and Kenneth Grant for further reading.

I think this is something like the third biography of "The Beast" I have read. Certainly complex, eccentric figure whose colorful life could be a basis for even contradictory opinions. This work is very detailed in research, including even conflicting accounts of key events, such as Crowley's final hours. How different is Crowley's imagined Thelema from "inspired" religions and texts of the remote past? Maybe there is a chance to study the origin and evolution of a religion, except that the taking up of Crowleys' New Aeon fared so poorly it hardly seems like a successful enough case for study. Also, his heroin addiction, ceremonialized of homosexuality, and flirtation with Hitler, etc. all make it easier to hand a sign of "decadent" show more than "divine" on this neck. If anything, for the lifelong scrapping by on the long con of getting money and resources from lovers and disciples makes for him as being, at least, the most successful charlatan of certainly recent times. So, maybe more than a religion founder, this may turn out more like a Faust and could possibly leave a similar impact on the future: more fantasy than fact. show less

Well researched, with copious source notes, and well written. As with any biography, the success or failure as a book depends very much on the subject material, and in this respect it is Crowley himself who fails to satisfy (a surprise, for a sexual magician). Whilst Sutin tries hard to be even-handed in his assessments, nothing can dispel the ultimate sense that whilst Crowley the personality may have been interesting, as a poet, artist and/or "mage" he was really rather dull. There is a sense that even he did not believe his own charades at times, even at the same time as revelling in the credulity of others.
Useful as a warning tale for overly melodramatic children - stop showing off or you'll end up like the Great Beast.

This was my first biography of Aleister Crowley - and for some time, I guess, my last. While Mr. Crowley certainly was an intriguing person and biographical subject, there is just too much in the description of his life that I find downbearing, depressing, revolting or just a bit unappetitely. But that is just me and it does not diminish the biographical work done by Mr. Sutin. The book contains a wealth of details which are, as far as I can judge, well commented and assessed, especially with regard to Crowley's artistic and magickal work. The book is well written and very readable and - the aforesaid notwithstanding - worth reading. I would have expected a more extensive bibliography - although just now, having finished the book show more yesterday, I would not really want to immediately read more on the subject of Mr. Crowley, but for my later use, maybe, or those who would want to dig deeper. show less

A long, rather academic study which although only just readable, is not accessible to the lay reader. This isn't a volume that will allow the starter in this subject area to feel as though they can understand Crowley or his motivations or even the Magic that he purports to perform. Good on detail and good on placement, this does not however describe or explain much of the magic or the motivations of the man. Difficult and at times, plodding. Make this the second or third volume you read about Crowley when you already have some insight and know what the esoteric socitiies mean.

The definitive biography of one of the most misunderstood men of the 20th century. Sutin portrays Crowley, dubbed by the sensationalist press as "the Wickedest Man in the World", in the most objective light possible. A well written and exhaustingly researched work that is readable and captivating.

I will use this review not as a platform to judge Crowley himself. However it should be said that Crowley, who had his share of flaws no doubt, made significant contributions to both literature and spirituality, which are criminally underappreciated.

An interesting read for the time periods. Not much to like in this fellow. As he would have liked it.