Rating: 
Summary: Good magick
Review: In the field of magick, there is much that is obscure, vexing and downright confusing. Phil Hine has done readers a tremendous service in creating a well-crafted tome of magickal instruction that will be of benefit for everyone from the most staid ceremonialist to the wildest neo-anarch street shaman.Hine writes in a unique, appealing voice, and his commentary never degenerates into insistence that the way he presents is best for any and all. Instead, he knows that the wise magician will eventually draw from innumerable sources to create his or her own unique brand of magick and mysticism. He is content to let his work be one of the many helpful resources a student may find along the way. This alone elevates the book as a whole, and coupled with Hine's clear and consise musings on the natural of ritual and the utility of magick makes for a work that is both appealing to the novice and the experienced magician alike. One of the clearest voices in the still-young field of Chaos Magick, Hine's work is a worthy addition to any magician's bookshelf.
Rating:
Summary: A solid, well argued, practical guide to "chaos" magick
Review: Looking for insight, intelligence and common sense in your guides to magickal work? Then look no further than Phil Hine, world-renowned practitioner of magick, both Chaos and otherwise. Condensed Chaos is more than a good introducition to Chaos magick theory; it's a vital and comprehensible introduction to the broad sweeep of magickal practice. Phil's style is common-sense, practical, informed and above all, human. His magickal experience covers everything from Wicca to Tantra and he has pushed forward technical Chaos as much as anyone. This gives him an excellent perspective from which to survey both beginners' and advanced chaos, and qualifies Condensed Chaos as a good, solid buy. Paul Eden
Rating:
Summary: Very good book, with useful data
Review: Perhaps the best of the books on Chaos Magic, covering all areas. If I were to have only one book on the subject, this would be it.
Rating:
Summary: The best introduction to Chaos Magic!
Review: Phil Hine breaks the theory of Chaos Magic down into laymans terms. One of the best books on Chaos I've read.
Rating:
Summary: Read This Book First!
Review: The one-stop introduction to chaos magick and magick in general. Clear, pragmatic, and highly imaginative, even experienced magicians will find a wealth of useful information in this amazing tome. Learn the finer points of successful invocation (whether you use the gods of mythology or your favorite sci-fi characters), viral servitor creation (imagine an army of Pokemon figurines at your command), ego magick, demonology, and much more. William S. Burroughs liked it, and you will too (unless perhaps you still think magick is all about wearing robes and swinging swords around, like Dungeons&Dragons for middle-aged men). If you are only going to buy one book on the subject this year, make it this one. Even Wiccans and New-agers might be able to get past the first page...
Rating: 
Summary: Rash, ill-considered and redundant.
Review: The problems with Phil Hine's book, just as the problems that dog the whole Chaos movement, are simply that the central ideas which form this kind of thinking fail to hold-up when analysed in any depth. Although they seem to offer snappy, intelligent and bang-up-to-the-minute answers for all of those niggling and ancient universal questions, they fall flat in practice. Here's why. For a kick-off, the idea that "all truths are subjective and relative" - which is central to chaos magick and much neo-paganism - does not work. To say that all truths are subjective and relative is actually to create a truth that is not and cannot be subjective and relative as a result. The very idea that ALL truths are subjective and relative prohibits the ability to state that ALL truths are subjective and relative, so by it's own assertion it cannot make that assertion. It just fizzles away in a hailstorm of acidic and disingenuous logic. The second problem is simply one of deep structure or underlying structure - something that chaos magicians like to imagine does not and cannot exist. Well, it does. The universe is not, contrary to chaos magick theory (or CMT), just a swirling mass of arbitrary randomness. It's actually quite the opposite. Every structure in the universe is produced in a strict sequence of appearance, inclusion and transcendence. Think of it this way - atoms form a part of molecules which form a part of cells which form a part of organs which form a part of organ systems which form a part of organisms. However, the same cannot be said to be true in reverse (organs do not contain organ systems and atoms don't contain molecules). Therefore, and holding equally true for anything, the universe produces structures that are whole in themselves while also being parts of other wholes, which have a basis of inclusion and transcendence (in one direction, towards higher states of complexity) no matter what perspective you might choose to take! As that is clearly the case, the universe is anything but random. It is actually joined together in a cohesive, continuous pattern by progressive, structural orders at different levels of complexity, and CMT cannot escape that (thanks are due to Ken Wilber for pointing this out). What Phil Hine and his fellow chaos magicians have simply done is to focus on the interior of one structure and note that within that structure there are a number of different positions, perspectives and points of view which may be adopted or reached at the same time (which is the whole of CMT's AWESOME discovery - simple, multiple perspectives). However, the actual position of the structure which contains those perspectives isn't affected by them - not in relation to the other structures which form and encompass it. Unless there is a transition to either more or less inclusiveness within a level of structural complexity (growth or collapse) then nothing very much changes. Yet, even if there is a transition of that kind, then the levels of complexity themselves do not change, the structure just changes its place within them, and this leads to a very interesting question that the chaos theorists either avoid or don't seem to have understood: What is that structure, where does it fit into the whole and how does that relationship inform the multiple perspectives we find ourselves living with? Phil Hine's answer to that question is nothing more than a restatement of the old 'blind men and the elephant' metaphor, with the added twist of just giving up and ignoring that the elephant was ever there to begin with. His thinking ambles to the conclusion that as one blind man touches the leg of the elephant and says "the elephant is like a tree", and the other examines its tail and says "no, it is like a snake", then the elephant itself becomes an arbitrary structure, which is obviously wrong. The perspectives are arbitrary, true enough, but the elephant remains a unified whole regardless of that. Confusing the two is like saying that the 'taste' is in the butter when you bite down on a sandwich, rather than in your tongue and your synapses when they react to it. It should be stressed, however, that none of these criticisms in any way state that chaos magick doesn't 'work'. They simply note that CMT is limited and limiting (ironically so for a movement which preaches liberty) to a process of finding triggers which produce effects and nothing more. As the bigger picture is lost in favour of seeing only varying perspectives within one part of the frame, then any practice that may venture across the whole or greater part of the frame can only be related in those impoverished terms. Metaphysical, spiritual and philosophical explorations must be 'reduced to fit' the mechanical test that Phil Hine proposes, and that is exactly what you get - a bland and unimaginative 'workplace' which is dumb to describe anything beyond itself.. What, then, is the value of Hine's work to the ongoing history of magick? To be honest I have say that in my view (from where I'm standing in the frame, having a damn good look at the whole) then it is very little. Just like Peter Carroll, Jan Fries, Nema, Robert Anton Wilson - the list goes on - Phil Hine is too busy throwing a fit of post-modern histrionics to notice that something is missing. However, nature abhors a vacuum so it won't be long before this kind of childishness is replaced with something better. Maybe then, and possibly only then, will a new school of genuinely innovative and evolutionary thinkers propose the next step for magick and take it forward to the heights it is capable of. Until then, it goes without saying, you are warmly invited to waste your time with Hine, because at least that would be truly chaotic, if that's what you're desperately in the mood for!
Rating:
Summary: expanded wisdom
Review: The world of magic can appear esoteric, complicated and highly formalized. Many are intimidated by the imagined sense of orthodoxy - not to mention the high number of practitioners who seem to take themselves so seriously. This book happily throws "authority" and dogma out the window. While integrating methodology and experience into its message, it explores the routes of chaos magic that fall more into the dimenions of a practice such as Zen, as opposed to the practice of any church or organization. Personal choice is key. Individualized approaches are acceptable. One comes away laughing at dogma junkies! Bravo Mr. Hine for creating this down-to-earth, yet inspiring overview that demonstrates so eloquently the various paths of chaos magic. The reader is treated to a delightful explanation of the powers of concentration, attention and imagination. Mr. Hine divides the book into diverse sections which explain everything from finding the humor in magic to drawing correlations between quantum mechanics and the way that chaos manifests in hundreds of other universal aspects. I was recovering from surgery when re-reading this wonderful book and found solace and comfort in its wisdom. Along with the array of medicine, beverages and "doctor-recommended" remedies, this book serves as nourishment for the spirit. I gleaned inspiration from its pages that actually fostered healing and revivified my mind while my entire system healed. One can derive much confidence and pleasure from sinking the mind into a work that so deftly merges science with spirituality. Phil Hine accomplishes many things in this timeless classic.
Rating:
Summary: The best introduction to Chaos Magic!
Review: This book contains all you need to know about chaos magic as a neophyte. Phil Hine is able to deliver thoughts and ideas about chaos magic in a clear and coincise manner avoiding made up obscure words that only the "elite" should know. For the more advanced magicians that have touched chaos and have not lost their sanity this book works as a great revision of the basics as well as a different approach on certain techniques that individuals tend to personalize. Having praised the book what has to be mentioned is the slight dogmatism that exists within it. The idea of chaos magic is pretty simple, do what works for you, it works because you believe it works. Phil Hine at times tends to state his personal opinions and experiences as universal truths about chaos magic. However within the book it is mentioned "nothing is true, everything is permitted" which also applies to the book itself and my reviw. Read this book and use what works for you. Assume nothing.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Intro Book
Review: This book contains all you need to know about chaos magic as a neophyte. Phil Hine is able to deliver thoughts and ideas about chaos magic in a clear and coincise manner avoiding made up obscure words that only the "elite" should know. For the more advanced magicians that have touched chaos and have not lost their sanity this book works as a great revision of the basics as well as a different approach on certain techniques that individuals tend to personalize. Having praised the book what has to be mentioned is the slight dogmatism that exists within it. The idea of chaos magic is pretty simple, do what works for you, it works because you believe it works. Phil Hine at times tends to state his personal opinions and experiences as universal truths about chaos magic. However within the book it is mentioned "nothing is true, everything is permitted" which also applies to the book itself and my reviw. Read this book and use what works for you. Assume nothing.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing is true...everything permitted.
Review: This book has a lot of good information to get you started using Chaos magick. If you've done magickal work before and are the sort of person who clings to rules and magick as an exact science, this book will rattle a few cages. But, take what you want, use it, and see what happens. Techniques are thoroughly explained. Theory is touched on but, as well as I remember, not too deeply. A good book to use to expand your magickal world. To me, not as good as those by Jan Fries and the one by Jaq D. Hawkins, but good none the less
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