Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy - Esoteric Book Review

My review of Llewellyn Publication's hardcover edition of Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy, edited and annotated by Donald Tyson.
See it on Amazon.co.uk: amzn.to/32IXGTv
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[@FoolishFishBooks]

All my comments and answers to comments were deleted in the process of transferring all my videos to this new channel :( I'm usually quite good at keeping up with viewer questions, so that's quite a lot of info gone, I'm afraid. If you read a question below that you would like a direct response to, don't hesitate to ask it again, I'm actually quite likely to respond :)

[@pedromanuel655]

Are you familiar with the llewellyn's edition? I've seen people recomending that edition and was curious if you know it and still recommend this one.

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

What was your old channel called?

[@ipsissimus4857]

Also I’ve never said this but have thought it many times, I love how innocent you are when your tone changes when speaking of the physical qualities of a book, when the qualities are below par you have a certain kind haughtyness that is charming and relatable but never obnoxious by any means

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Hahaha! This made me laugh :D My deep-rooted Taurus tendencies coming through there. Delighting the intellect just ain't enough, sorry! ;D

[@DavinTurner]

@@FoolishFishBooks Hey, I'm a Taurus as well! =D

[@spazmatCc]

FF: "PAUSE THE VIDEO AND READ THIS!" Everyone: *nods in agreement*

[@Alraundelberin]

I've recently discover your channel. Your book reviews are wonderful and I am more interested in your esoteric collection. I'd be very happy if you would make a video about your occult books collection and also another video about how your interest has started, which books help you most at the beginning. Thank you for sharing these with us! I can't wait for the new uploads!

[@Alraundelberin]

Denis Poisson Firstly, thank you for this reply, the list is amazing and I only know Duquette’s books in this list; I’ll definitely check out the rest of it. You’d assume I’ve read the Bible but I was raised in an Islamic country. I’ve always been a “spiritual” person and a dream might be the reason I’ve become interested in esoteric subjects (and terrified at the same time as a teen) Manly P.Hall’s Secret Teachings of All Ages was my first book.. Lately, The Glitch Bottle is my favorite podcast while I drive to work everyday :)

[@Alraundelberin]

@@FoolishFishBooks I am actually confused which version of the Holy Bible should be read? There are so many options- which is the one that the outsider should read to understand the true message? I love Rumi. Reading his teachings has been healing for me. Literally. Thank you for the inspiring recommendations.

[@Alraundelberin]

Denis Poisson thank you very much ☀️🌼

[@ipsissimus4857]

Thanks Sir. On more than one occasion I have contemplated purchasing certain editions of the same book, and have been able to use your reviews as a way to see the quality of the book and the identity beneath the dust jacket to better make my decision. That is just an added plus to the worth you’ve provided me and the rest of KZbin viewers who can only seem to find your videos about certain hard copies, thank you a million times over for the next thousand books you review for us. ⚔️

[@FoolishFishBooks]

I'm so glad you're finding the content useful!

[@osborndegenius303]

@@FoolishFishBooks hello bro

[@Knowledge11111]

Thanks for making this video’s of occult books. There is so much to read! I would like to see your preview of nag hammadi book.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Oh, I'd live to do a video on the Nag Hammadi Library! Only my copy is pretty battered and old, I'm not even sure it's in print still. Maybe I can get a new edition at some point soon, something a bit more presentable 😉

[@caseymiller119]

I love your channel. I have purchased so many books because of your reviews.

[@idiotman666]

I have this, but in paperback. I've looked after it well though. Amazing book. Truly a mind boggling amount of knowledge.

[@Dellen-Roger]

Hi. I am thinking of buying the book. Can I ask you a few questions?

[@idiotman666]

@@Dellen-Roger Sure.

[@betablockrr]

@@idiotman666 Is the paper back version different to the hard back? I have seen the paper backs are 344 pages and the hardback is 1024, surely content is missing? Or is the text just smaller? Also what version do you have? Sorry for so many questions I just want to get the right one!

[@idiotman666]

@@betablockrr Funny you ask that, the first copy I was given was the short form version by Cosimo books and I was like WTF? The version by Llewellyn books is the 1000 page one that has everything in it, edited and annoted by Donald Tyson. That's what you want.

[@betablockrr]

@@idiotman666 Thank you so much, that's really helped me know what one to get now! I won't pretend I'll understand half or any of it but it's a fascinating book either way that I have to have 😅

[@LivingTheJoyousLife]

I just recently came across your channel and am enjoying your reviews. I was wondering if you could do a bookshelf tour? I'd be interested in seeing how you store your books. Cheers

[@Charlotte-js5ux]

It's a pleasure to look at your book reviews and I'm so inspired to buy them. The only question is if I buy all the books, how I will manage to read all of them.

[@betablockrr]

I often come back to this video as it was the one that convinced me to buy this version. While I dream of owning the Eric Purdue version, my bank couldn't handle it. This was the perfect middle between readability and accuracy. This book is my pride and glory!

[@luckystrike757]

Thanks for the review. I now have this one in my collection ;)

[@AndrewMaksymBrainNectar]

Dude I'd love to browse through some of your books in your library. You've got a good collection.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Full book tour coming out on Saturday 😊🙏

[@harmony331000]

Meeeee toooooo!! ✌️😬

[@ModernMetaphysicae]

The nag hammadi library is a topic of research long on my list, any good texts you would recommend to start with?

[@Hunter-fs1nj]

I am struggling through my third reread of Kessinger's versions; without any knowledge of geomancy, so it gets a bit dry. But I really like the ideas of the relations of high to low before Levi got his hands on the idea.

[@natep3817]

Very nice. Im happy i found all 4 volumes in one book. I was surpised but amazon is beyond a bookstore like we grew up with in the 80s

[@Leothelion357]

I believe the 4th volume wasn’t actually agrippas but still nice to have👍

[@whatakrispot]

I’ve heard the kindle version of this edition contains only book 1. Kind of confused to find the full 3 books in e-book version.

[@brandoncallaway8835]

I got to say thanks to you i bought this book and i can't believe how extensive of an amount of occult knowledge is in this book.i was kind of upset when i bought it. It had a finger or glue smudge or something on the white part,( when the book is closed and it had two pages that were slightly torn. All of which pissed me off, so Amazon got a bad review for that! Anyways, aside from that rant, i have finally went through some of the material in the book after getting over my begrudging attitude about the condition of the book. It's amazing, it has all of the stuff i was looking for, from older astrological talismanic making, to binding spirits into objects. Thanks for doing a review on this book.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Yeah, mine was covered in fingerprints when I got mine, but the waxy paper withstands a slightly damp sponge very well, followed by a paper towel. The prints come off like no-one's business :) Amazon's packing service getting gradually worse... It's a great book though! I'm so glad you like it!

[@betablockrr]

I have seen paperback versions off this but there only 300 or so pages compared to the 1000 pages in the hard cover, are the paperbacks less content or just smaller writing?

[@jamesfindice2871]

I am planning on getting these texts. I saw that black letter press has a beautiful version of all four books. Do you have any information about the comparison of tysons and paul summer youngs translations? This one seems te be a third of the price of the black letter press one... those are just sooooo beautiful!! And if this is a text i will be coming nack to in the future i would maybe rather get the black letter press books. Yeah this one is 35 pounds on amazon and one book of the 4 volumes of black letter press costs 45€ or you can get all four for 170€. I am also on a pretty tight budjet at the moment, as i am studying full time. Oh btw: i love your channel and highly appreciate what you do, THANK YOU!

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Summers-Young's translation is more readable, but Tyson's notes are unequaled.

[@ITRiBUTEI]

Mr Foolish Fish , if I were to purchase this instead of the black letter press set without the commentary (which cost more) would I still be getting the same information, excluding the notes? Essentially am I missing anything if I get this and the 4th book instead of the 4 book set without the notes? Is the information the same? I'm guessing so but just to be safe. Thank you as always

[@FoolishFishBooks]

More information here, just a less modern translation.

[@blindi6326]

The surface underneath the dust cover smudges up very easily. Even after a few reading sessions the golden text where my fingers had rested had turned almost completely black. Otherwise it's a great book for sure.

[@simon-vd8xm]

Is this book the same material as the soft cover?

[@allison01ful]

great vid

[@Freddy-Zamora-MX]

You you are absolutely right at the end, when you say: If it is going to be Paperback I quite happy will get it on Kindle. Btw do you get rid of the dustcovers or do you keep them?

[@FoolishFishBooks]

It depends... For books I expect to increase in value, I keep the dustcover. But when a book has a really hiddeous dustcover and a nice actual cover, then you know ;P

[@Freddy-Zamora-MX]

@@FoolishFishBooks If you ever think about selling, let me know, we share a lot of the same books, but you have some books I don't, that I would love to have. Even if I read my self like bragging, I am not and I am sorry in advance. I do get rid of the dustcover right away. dont like that stuff.

[@SumNutOnU2b]

There's a new translation of this by Eric Purdue recently released. He has corrected quite a few translation errors. They did an interview discussing it on esoterica (Justin Sledge)'s channel

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Indeed 😄👍kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGKXkHmLqt2glZo

[@mvjonsson]

It is also very expensive, much more than the Tyson hardcover edition.

[@horrorjunkie96]

which of the three editions you own of Agrippa is your desert island one? I know each have their use case but if you were forced to pick...

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Twist my arm hard enough I'd probably go with Eric Purdue's 😊

[@niclasromanski7920]

Hey foolish fish! Can you recommend this book to a beginner? I have carefully read around 4 occult books so far, including the Kybalion. And also, would you recommend to look into neoplatonism or other topics before reading this book?

[@FoolishFishBooks]

I think it's a great reference book, but not ideal for a beginner, no. Work your way through some Lon Milo Duquette and some John Michael Greer first 👍

[@brandoncallaway8835]

Good lord torus 😂 everyday i see a new book that you have that i want!!! There are so many explanations in there for planetary grids, sigils, envokations ECT. God i want it. Hey my birthdays coming up in three months! Lol

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Yeah this is a good one, for sure 😉👍

[@brandoncallaway8835]

Lol, is that no go?!? Lol hahah just teasing you. I'll have to get it myself. Darnit lol

[@FoolishFishBooks]

@@brandoncallaway8835 good try 😜

[@noam65]

I've had this in paperback. For me much was impenetrable. Has anyone made practical use of any of it, even for mundane purposes?

[@3jeromejones]

Thank you

[@somebo222]

Is there any mention of reincarnation in the book?

[@BenThomas13]

Just ordered this

[@QuaesitorDei]

Bought this last night at 2am ish, i google books now and again to see if it reco,ends a strange seller and oxfam had it for 10.99. I have the l.f translation facimile from amazon but theres only 2 illustrations in it. And i love an occult boook with old illustrations. 😅

[@NobodyHere]

Is this the only edition of this particular reworking of the text....? Thanks for this! :)

[@jasonmullinder]

I have gone through so much effort to not get this question answered, I have the paperback edition and recall find footnotes cut short at the end of a page and no subsequent pages with the rest of that text. I want to know if editorial mistakes have been fixed or if this is the exact same book but in a new revision edition

[@jasonmullinder]

I just went through my copy, specifically book one chapter XXVII What Things are Under the Power of Mars and are Called Martial. Page 89 in the paperback edition, a paragraph of the text is cut short and does not continue in the next pages, the second last line of text points to a footnote number 15, turning the page the rest of the chapter is missing but footnotes extend to 17. I don't know how many other errors exist but this stood out as very obvious

[@jasonmullinder]

I haven't been able to find anywhere if there had been revsions or this is just bound in a hardcover, it's been awjile it was the footnotes that continued and the actual text that cut short

[@jasonmullinder]

That's the full sentence, it's not much of an omission but I remember years ago after reading that far through the book I started to wonder what other editorial mistakes crept in, it looks like at some point they did go and check

[@jasonmullinder]

my copy has "... fish that hath horns like a" then ends abrubtly

[@nrichie8443]

I've been consistent with my magick and had a dream about the hermetic tarot is it a coincidence I bumped into your channel?

[@FoolishFishBooks]

😄 I find my life becomes much more charmed when I reject the idea of coincidence 😉👍 best wishes to you!

[@nrichie8443]

@@FoolishFishBooks idk what you mean lol I'm just trying to figure out my path and style of magick? Any tips

[@FoolishFishBooks]

@@nrichie8443 :D Hahaha! I'm sorry, when you asked if it was a coincidence, I just meant I get better results when I chose not to believe in coincidence ;) Regarding your path and style, I'd say follow what interests you, and never stop digging deeper, uphill and downhill, so if something confuses you, take the trouble to research where it came from and why it is the way it is, but also where it's going and how it's eveolved and is still evolving. Good luck!

[@lephilosopheinconnu3952]

Amazing thread. All comments 👌👌👌

[@MrGoodeats]

likely a synchronicity. look up carl jung and archetypal symbols in dreams and see if that leads you closer to anything

[@perceval6947]

How does this version compare to the one recently released by Black Letter Press?

[@FoolishFishBooks]

I will be reviewing BLP's Book 1 next week or the week after. Probably next week.

[@Betapvnk]

This bad boy was a damn good price

[@Sk8erMorris]

Why did Agrippa retract his work on the "Of Occult Philosophy" by the time he published it? I read that it's because to whoever uses magic for malice will not have a happy outcome. But is this true of why he thought of his work as juvenile?

[@ptathholroyd4128]

yes, thast strange, isnt it?

[@Danthehorse]

Any reason to get this over much cheaper editions on Amazon?

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Yes. The notes by Donald Tyson are as valuable as Agrippa's work itself!

[@Danthehorse]

@@FoolishFishBooks thank you sir . I just got hold of the Arbaret, and to me, that is solid gold.

[@essianmavex7549]

Is it smith sewn or perfect bound?

[@horrorjunkie96]

both!

[@essianmavex7549]

@@horrorjunkie96 Excellent, with over a thousand pages, the binding ought to be as durable as possible.

[@horrorjunkie96]

3:52 illustrations can be so blotchy. give me a sharper computer recreation than a low def scan any day 😁

[@robertrodriguez8665]

Oh by the way the gold stamp rubs off rather quick.

[@theoneand0nly874]

Does this turn me into Harry Potter ?

[@olives8539]

I came here after solving the first puzzle and i gave up

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Which puzzle? If this is the answer, it sounds like a puzzle is like to know more about 😄

[@wanderingtallguy6849]

Imagine to have it in Human Leather.... Limited editions!

[@wabbitnred3609]

I didn't realize you would be critiquing the book binding and illustrations... What in the world for?

[@grayace4556]

To be sure the quality is up to par and the book will not fall apart or be cheap crap and it will last when you buy it. :)

[@jayshaunpatty8972]

I agree smh

[@wabbitnred3609]

Ok

[@JK-jl1bf]

Would it be fair to say that if you spend about 20 plus years studying The Occult that this book is merely just a door stop of a book of no more use than a telephone directory or the Yellow Pages. 99% of this is all been hashed over in different forms of Magick and now to be all “You need this in your collection” is an insult to our intelligence, however I’m glad you’re not trying to sell this dinosaur. Magick comes from within you and any system has its roots in Source, The Elements and balancing those through transformation by will and faith into something one can command at will to manifest an objective change or cause by intention. If you want a book that will give you all that old age to The New Age flavor to build a great foundation look no further than The Kybalion by Three Initiates.

[@a.s3748]

This book was written for people during the medieval time bro

[@FoolishFishBooks]

16th Century. It's the Renaissance. Same as Da Vinci.