Rating: 
Summary: I am estatic to see Witches back in print!
Review: Although the book does not give an over whelming amount of information, the information contained within is sound. What makes this book special is the spectacular art work and the lovley (though somewhat mildly graphic in choice of words and phrases) poems -- truly it is a "coffee table book", but it is one that every witch should have on his or her coffee table. Well worth the money.
Rating: 
Summary: Flawed but entertaining.....
Review: Erica Jong has been the Thomas Paine of the Women's Movement, and over the years I have always known I could count on her to inspire me when I felt worn down by the forces of sexism. Although Jong has been an articulate and effective spokesperson for women's issues, she has frequently ignored important detail and left herself open to criticism. This is a pity because there are those who will throw the baby out with the bathwater. It should surprise no one that the author of THE FEAR OF FLYING would be inspired to write a book on WITCHES--who are reputed to fly and have strong sexual urges. However, these attributes alone do not a book on witches make. Ms Jong's WITCHES has many fine points and some bothersome weaknesses. On the one hand, WITCHES contains some wonderful and fantastical illustrations of witches by Joseph Smith (ironical ain't it??). In fact, WITCHES reminds me of a fairy-tale book for adults. The text type is "big" and she includes many interesting sidebars along with her pictures. On the other hand, Ms. Jong's text is less than accurate. From my reading of academic works by respected historians and anthropologists and of books by wiccans/witches acknowldged to be "experts" by their followers, I think Ms. Jong lacked both a knowledge of witchcraft and a research background. Unfortunately, her shortcomings are apparent. Jong has written a "pop" witch book. Although Jong includes a relatively impressive bibliography, most of her writing seems to be based on her interpretation of three sources: Margot Adler's DRAWING DOWN THE MOON, the MALLEUS MALEFICARUM written by two Inquistors, and the questionable works of Margaret Murray. The rest of the text is an interesting hotch-potch of factoids from a variety of sources. If she mentioned the Inquisition once, she mentioned it a hundred times. Given historical research of the past few years, it is simply not accurate to blame the Roman Catholic church for the "witch-craze" of the 16th and 17th centuries. As Candace Savage points out in her extremely well researched book WITCH, over half of the witches destroyed by Christians during the witch-craze were killed in Protestant Germany. Many more were killed in Scotland, Sweden, and Switzerland--home to northern Protestants. Jong's logic is flawed and her chronology muddled. She leaps from the 17th Century to the 14th Century, from the Scottish king James' fear of sorcerers to Barbara Tuchman's description of social brekdown during the Black Plague. She seems to have an axe to grind against "the church" i.e. the Roman Catholic Church. Well, I am a "fallen-away" Catholic myself and I certainly find many church positions difficult to swallow (although I love Mary), but I believe in historical accuracy as nearly as we can determine it. Unfortunately, Christians of both persuasions, as well as many nationalities have treated women very badly over the past 1000 years or so. Blaming the Roman Catholic Church for all these atrocities is rather like blaming Germany for all the deaths in the 20th Century -- a major player but there's plenty of blame to go around.
Rating:
Summary: Flawed but entertaining.....
Review: Erica Jong has been the Thomas Paine of the Women's Movement, and over the years I have always known I could count on her to inspire me when I felt worn down by the forces of sexism. Although Jong has been an articulate and effective spokesperson for women's issues, she has frequently ignored important detail and left herself open to criticism. This is a pity because there are those who will throw the baby out with the bathwater. It should surprise no one that the author of THE FEAR OF FLYING would be inspired to write a book on WITCHES--who are reputed to fly and have strong sexual urges. However, these attributes alone do not a book on witches make. Ms Jong's WITCHES has many fine points and some bothersome weaknesses. On the one hand, WITCHES contains some wonderful and fantastical illustrations of witches by Joseph Smith (ironical ain't it??). In fact, WITCHES reminds me of a fairy-tale book for adults. The text type is "big" and she includes many interesting sidebars along with her pictures. On the other hand, Ms. Jong's text is less than accurate. From my reading of academic works by respected historians and anthropologists and of books by wiccans/witches acknowldged to be "experts" by their followers, I think Ms. Jong lacked both a knowledge of witchcraft and a research background. Unfortunately, her shortcomings are apparent. Jong has written a "pop" witch book. Although Jong includes a relatively impressive bibliography, most of her writing seems to be based on her interpretation of three sources: Margot Adler's DRAWING DOWN THE MOON, the MALLEUS MALEFICARUM written by two Inquistors, and the questionable works of Margaret Murray. The rest of the text is an interesting hotch-potch of factoids from a variety of sources. If she mentioned the Inquisition once, she mentioned it a hundred times. Given historical research of the past few years, it is simply not accurate to blame the Roman Catholic church for the "witch-craze" of the 16th and 17th centuries. As Candace Savage points out in her extremely well researched book WITCH, over half of the witches destroyed by Christians during the witch-craze were killed in Protestant Germany. Many more were killed in Scotland, Sweden, and Switzerland--home to northern Protestants. Jong's logic is flawed and her chronology muddled. She leaps from the 17th Century to the 14th Century, from the Scottish king James' fear of sorcerers to Barbara Tuchman's description of social brekdown during the Black Plague. She seems to have an axe to grind against "the church" i.e. the Roman Catholic Church. Well, I am a "fallen-away" Catholic myself and I certainly find many church positions difficult to swallow (although I love Mary), but I believe in historical accuracy as nearly as we can determine it. Unfortunately, Christians of both persuasions, as well as many nationalities have treated women very badly over the past 1000 years or so. Blaming the Roman Catholic Church for all these atrocities is rather like blaming Germany for all the deaths in the 20th Century -- a major player but there's plenty of blame to go around.
Rating:
Summary: Very adorable
Review: I am a wiccan, i loved this book. it's not about wicca, but about WITCHES, there is a difference, no matter how much some wiccans want to to belive otherwise. this is a beautiful book. It can't be read like she is trying to prove andything, because she is not. She has beautiful artwork and beautful writing, thouroghly reccomended to wiccans, witches and lovers of either.
Rating:
Summary: Sexy book - not made specifically for Wicca pratictioners
Review: I bought WITCHES back in 1981 when it first came out (before the neo-pagan movement). While it does have some interesting Wiccan references, it is clear that it is not for instruction, but for novelty purposes. As a witch, I think it is a fun book to have with wonderful illustrations.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful
Review: i found this book to be so holy and so .....awe inspiring it's unbeleivably beautiful in the way it is put together beautiful art work even more beautiful writing this is erica at her finest!
Rating:
Summary: A book to treasure!
Review: I have been looking for this book for a very long time, and I could never find it-until recently. I had given up on the search, and then -poof- there it was, staring me in the face in the Bargain Section of Media Play. The artwork is absolutely gorgeous, and it is as accurate as a book about Witchcraft can be (because so many people write about it, and often opinions vary, PLUS the subject itself is very old and over the years things have been distorted). I have countless other books about Witchcraft, but I had to get this one.
Rating:
Summary: the truth behind the words
Review: I have read several books on witchcraft and this is one of them. The book is excellent and the pictures are all beautiful and help stress the point that Erica is trying to make. This book is very accurate. You have to read beyond the print to understand some of what is written. There is truth behind the myth and until you can talk to a Salem witch trial survivor, ther is myth behind the truth. But if you really want to you can decifer between the truth and the myth. Read the book only if you are interested in finding the truth and are ready to set aside all that you think that you know.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful!
Review: I have this book and recommend it to anyone. The artwork and poetry alone are worth the price of the book! Absolutely Breathtaking! Buy it!
Rating:
Summary: awesome
Review: i loved this book. not only did it have great advice the pictures were awesome!!!!!
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