Rating: 
Summary: Excellent information on Paganism and Wicca history.
Review: Raymond Buckland has been a practicing Wiccan and also a Witch for many years and this book shows just that. It's insightful and a amazing reference. It was quizzes at every chapter's end for you to review what you know and to keep your brain working :) Buckland has put years of study and years of practice into this compact, paper-binded, object. It has every possible piece of information on Paganism and Wiccan history that you would never need to buy another book in that area! It was side notes for the complicated chapters and paragraphs, it also has many good pictures and illustrations so that the reader can understand more completely. Every fellow Wiccan and Pagan I have spoken to seemed to have started their studying with this book - including myself ironically. This book is like an outline to your path; or map, if you will. It tells you everything you need to know, quizzes you, and then gives you references at the end if you wish to continue your study and education in the field of Paganism. Get this book, it's a MUST for any beginning Wiccan, anyone interested in Wicca and Witchcraft, or even someone who is an elder in the Craft - no matter what level of education you have with Wicca, this book will to teach you things even you didn't know! :)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent and comprehensive
Review: I found this book to be very well organized and quite useful. It provides outlines for all necessary information and helps any foundling coven or Solitary in their practice. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone trying to learn the Craft.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Book with Good Insights
Review: I believe that this is a great book for beginner of the Craft. I think, though, that Buckland's book isn't exactly so much for someone who is trying to learn about Witchcraft to be a solitary practitioner. I think that it does lack a small amount of explanations for some terms that a beginning Witch would not no without an explanation. I think that it's WONDERFUL for someone who has had a small amount of experience and read a few books but I don't think this should be the absolute first book that should be read by someone interested in Witchcraft. I like the idea that it covers a wide range of Witchcraft topics, but it seems to be aimed towards someone who is thinking of becoming a part of a coven and as an initiate. I believe that this would be great as a work book for someone who has a teacher or a little experience, but for those of us beginning Witches and anyone who even has a slight interest in Witchcraft, I wouldn't recommend this book as the absolutely know all, see all book. Buckland's book does wonders for me, but at times has left me with a small amount of confusion but otherwise, in general, it's a wonderful book. I hope that all people interested in becoming a Witch, even if they wish not to follow Buckland's religion, Gardnerian I believe, should consider this, but others in conjunction with this book or have some experience before considering to follow through with this book and take Witchcraft all at once. It's an expansive art, science, and religion but we must keep an open mind and consider all sources. Remember also that all authors who right these books realize that they don't know all and that they would want us, as readers to not take on a personality that would criticize others books simply because they don't compare with a book such as this. All in all, I believe that this is a great book, but read something a little more basic first, such as Scott Cunningham or Silver Ravenwolf before reading this one. This will help you clarify terms that you may see in this book that you don't understand and save you a large amount of confusion. No author is better than any other as far as their beliefs. The two other mentioned authors in this review, write understandably and light-heartedly. Basically, they break it down as simple as it could be...so after reading some of these basic books, if you wish to delve into Witchcraft more completely, this book is for you! Remember, always keep an open mind and criticize politely and with respect...this is called CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, not this is a terrible book...yada yada yada. Witchcraft teaches us to be accepting and kind and most of all RESPECT those around you as you would nature itself.
Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: raymond buckland shows what it means to be a witch filled with everything you need to know from worship and beliefs to rituals and magic an excellent book for those intreseted in wicca
Rating:
Summary: A wealth of knowledge for neophyte to seasoned Witch.
Review: Buckland's "Blue Bible" as it is commonly known among many Witches does indeed offer the perspective from one stance of Witchcraft; however, he does not limit the readers in how they may interpret, and encourages free thought and analysis of ritual and deity. The rituals he gives are clear, concise, and beautifully crafted, and Sabbat ritual and information, coupled with magickal alphabets, divination, and deity concepts make this book a welcome addition to any Witch's bookshelf.
While admittedly, there are procedures and rituals which "eclectic" Witches or Wiccans may find illogical or even inappropriate, they are nonetheless a valuable source for traditional Witchcraft and for eclectic seeking to get "back to the basics". As a further bonus, he does not (like some other pagan writers) simply give a ritual or procedure, but explains the need and meaning of it, and leaves no room for questions in the "how-to's".
I've been practicing Witchcraft for years now, and in all my studies Buckland's Blue Bible is undoubtedly one of my favorite (and most valuable) resources. He is to tradition what Cunningham is to eclectic, not only a source of information but a source of *personable* information.
Rating: 
Summary: "Complete" If You Happen To Be Raymond Buckland
Review: Nevermind all the hulabaloo that surrounds a Big Name Pagan. Buckland's full of himself and a lot of other stuff, too, and this comes across in the pages of this book. For starters, it is the most pompous and boring book on the Craft I have ever read. His "style" is stiff with an almost touch-me-not aura. Let me also point out that this is no book on general witchcraft. It is a tome on the brand of the Craft Buckland invented himself, Seax Wicca, and won't be every witch's cup of brew. I'm always amazed at how any book on the Craft can lack passion, and this is the most passionless out there. Should I even mention the ritual bondage associated with initiation? Symbolism, sure. Bondage is bondage and has no place in a practice where all are equal. Read this if you must but please supplement it with other more liberal renderings of the Craft.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book
Review: This book is down to earth, very informative and Kindly worded. Mr. Buckland does not alienate the non-wiccan reader. He touches on Every aspect of not only the craft but of many spirituality-based practices which wicca happens to use also. (Astrology, Tarot, Divination) It is comfortable and inspirational from the beginning. He does not profess to be the only authority on the subject and encourages the student-reader to seek out the nitty gritty details through continued reading of other books. An excellent book for your personal library, witch or not.
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite worth it
Review: This book gets a lot of publicity, and it would deserve it if it were the only book of its kind out there. But it isn't. This book has a pretty good section on making an athame, and everything else you can find in tons of other books explained a LOT better. The author does a good job of remaining impartial to any religious viewpoint, but as a result the book is no more than an information pamphlet written by a disinterested, unimaginative, and sometimes not very thorough author. I don't recommend this book for anyone actually trying to look at "Witchcraft" and get a feeling for what it is. This book doesn't do that at all. It just gives a lot of techniques that, in my opinion, don't really work that well.
Rating:
Summary: The first Beginners book that I actually liked
Review: Finally someone with something positive to say to those who are just starting. In terms of beginners books, this is at the opposite end of the spectrum from $ilver Ravenwolf. He doesn't offer the advanced secrets, but does show you what it is to be a Wiccan Witch. He manages to artfully thread the line between revealing too much (oathbound) and revealing too little (Cunningham) and avoids making stuff up to fill pages ($ilver). This would be an excellent primer to anybody who wants to be a witch but hasn't found any in their area yet. I do recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Not perfect, but quite good
Review: When I teach beginning students, I give them three books: this one, Cunningham's Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, and the Farrar's Witches' Bible. I have seen a lot of reviewers saying they recommend using Buckland's book together with Cunningham's and I think this is excellent advice...the lessons are very good and quite thorough. I know of no other book that covers so many aspects of witchcraft. True, he covers so much ground there's not much room for depth, but it's a good starting-off place. He presents all the technical info: tools and divination and herbs and altar furniture and history and circle construction and dreams and meditation -- whew! Cunningham is a good balance for the more spiritual aspects. I think this is a good book to read through once or twice, using it as a starting point for further study. I think you'll also want to keep it on your shelf as a handy reference. As with any book, remember to think for yourself and you'll get a lot out of it... One last note -- the book covers so many different subjects, so many MECHANICS, that I sometimes forget how beautiful his Sabbat rituals are. He has included an entire book of shadows here, including seasonal rites, esbats, even a New Moon Rite. They are well-written and very poetic; for these alone I would recommend the book.
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