Rating: 
Summary: If you like this sort of thing, how could you do better?
Review: This book is highly-priced; there was a $30.00 version. I bought the $500.00 (yes, five hundred) signed, limited edition. That's how much I thought of Manly P. Hall. He was a great scholar, and also had the great pleasure of hearing him speak at the Philosophical Research Society in 1990, shortly before his death.Having read classical and comparative philosophy and religion for nearly 20 years, I think you really cannot do better than this book. You might want to look for a more economical version, but my understanding is that the illustrations are very attractive in this edition. If you appreciate Joseph Campbell, but wish to pursue the more mystical side of religion, Manly P. Hall is an excellent resource. Whereas Campbell was a self-proclaimed "maverick" with no particular allegiance to any one form of religion, Manly P. Hall was a 33 degree Freemason, and clearly was sympathetic to the notion that at one time in our history there was a system of mystery religions in which invocation of deities was practiced, and actually achieved. (Classic example, if memory serves, being Plutarch's tale of the invocation of the Neoplatonist Plotinus' guardian angel in the Temple of Isis in Rome by an Egyptian priest.) If you are sympathetic to "the old religions", and want a sympathetic scholarly accounting, - again, it is hard for me to imagine how you could do better than buying this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Impractical
Review: This is a huge, heavy, glossy, impressive looking book. The print is tiny, as tiny as it gets. And the illustrations and footnotes, which are extensive and constant, are even tinier print. I have 20/20 eyesight but still could not read this book without uncomfortable effort. So how about the value of the content? Couldn't tell you. Wanna buy mine?
Rating: 
Summary: Encyclopedic review of Esoteric systems
Review: This is an excellent text for anyone interested in Esoteric teachings from ancient times onward. The author covers just about anything you've heard of and probably a lot that you haven't. The color plates and illustrations are excellent and there is an amazing amount of information packed into this book. One problem arises, however: some of the information is outdated when newer discoveries are taken into account. The author wrote the book something like 80 years ago and though it's been through revisions, it still contains information that probably should be updated. That is a rare instance however, and I'd say 99% of this book is accurate, right on the money, and DEFINITELY worth the price. You probably won't find another source that covers as much as well. Buy it, borrow it, whatever, it is worth the time to read.
Rating: 
Summary: This could be a better book...
Review: What can I say about this book. It is worth its weight in gold. It is simply the great work of all teachings in one book. It's a must for any occult/metaphysical library.
Rating:
Summary: one of the most complete sources available
Review: while this book will offer you an amazing wealth of knowledge about a vast quantity of subjects, i do not recomend it for the beginner as it is a bit difficult to read. if you have a bit of knowledge about the subjects you may be able to get through it, but you may also become frustrated. it has beautiful pictures inside that almost make it worth the price alone. i was very pleased to see the newer copies that were softcover; before then this book may not have been affordable to all who sought after it's information. i bought it mainly for it's information on masons, a belief system that has always creeped me out a little:) it still creeps me out but i'm educated as to why now:)
| 
