Top 10 Occult Books of 2021 [Esoteric Saturdays]

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Just a reminder that this is really just the opinion of this Foolish Fish, and really bears no reflection on the value of the many outstanding books that almost but didn't quite make it to this tiny, cramped list (looking at you, Rod and Ring, Born of Blood and Fire, Carfax Monographs, Cult of the Black Cube, Wortcunning, Litanies of Thoth, Kurukulla et al...)

[@josephhpeterson5768]

Thanks for including me on your list! I'm glad you found my tips useful.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Terrific book, Joseph! The entire community is richer for it! 🙏

[@alexanderkaval7506]

Long live the king! ❤😉

[@thewizardofawes8194]

FF, I can't stress enough how critical your job is to make book reviews so important and compelling. Thanks to you, we have an authoritative and thoughtful opinion on formats and contents. So again thank you very much!

[@akilasultana2368]

I gasped seeing the shelves! So beautiful !!!

[@dylanmagoiofthethalasso4032]

The main reason why I adore your channel is that you review and talk about occult books that aren't in the limelight, popular and on topics that aren't well known. Changeling has been on my wishlist since it came out.

[@horrorjunkie96]

9:32 this edition looks very close to Invocations from Hereditary 😅 the hardcover, the colour and even the sun art!!

[@dariaabdul7797]

Рейтинг, который мне был необходим🙏 Rating i needed the most. Thank you, my dear

[@robertblackmore703]

I believe I got the very last copy of the Hekateon and feel extremely lucky for this. Shout out to Larry from Miskatonic Books who was super kind and went way out of his way to insure I was able to grab this! As always thank you Dennis for your lovingly curated content, without which I may not have been aware of this book and many others.

[@gmccaughry]

Oh thank you so very much for the wonderful 5th position for Celestial Intelligences, quite honoured truly! :D

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Stiff competition this year, though Anathema's books would sweep the "most beautiful" category, for sure! 😄🙌♥️

[@RevBeggs]

I won’t lie, I wish that Skinner’s version of Crowley’s Four Books of Magick was on there, but it was an amazing list! It makes me happy seeing books I own in your videos too. Glad to see you also love Peterson, he’s kept me studying since that came out. Much love!

[@silkweaver]

Yes! 🤩I've been waiting for your list! I agree with every suggestion I can rate, apart from the details like how I'd order them. Since you're asking, that's my personal top list for 2021 and mostly intersecting with yours - not necessarily in order, but books I'm working with or at least have read: - The Hekataeon - Sworn and Secret Grimoire - Josephine's Magickal Knowledge Trilogy - Arthur Moros' Cult of the Black Cube (at least the 2nd edition I got is 2021, bear with me) - Clavis Goetica - Rod and Ring (it's beautiful, the haptics of the collector's edition are a treat and we simply resonate) And Celestial Intelligences, I just received it and haven't read yet, however I agree, what a beautiful book it is!

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Great choices, and the books you mentioned that weren't on my list are most defintely in my top 20 or even 15!

[@Sapientiaa]

@@FoolishFishBooks Where would you place The cult of the black cube, and do you have any books on UAP phenomena?

[@IBMikmaq]

I must have been listening to you very carefully throughout the year since I have every single one of these books. Thank you so much for your video’s.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

😄🏆 glad to find out I'm consistent at least 👍 you must be amassing quite the collection then, IBMikmaq! 😄

[@IBMikmaq]

@@FoolishFishBooks I truly have. I went through all your old videos in the past two months, even though many I have watched multiple times and ended up adding an additional 30 plus books to my collection thanks to your suggestions. It’s actually probably more in the 50’s but we won’t tell my wife that one. Lol

[@FoolishFishBooks]

@@IBMikmaq wow! That's fast 😄🎊

[@James-il4bo]

Excellent commentary,very useful for navigating the endless sea of occult literature!

[@robertbradley8309]

I agree with your #1, Elucidation of Necromancy!! I bought this immediately after watching Dr. Justin Sledge on ESOTERICA!!

[@TakeTheRing]

I've been thinking about picking up a KJV Bible and noticed the B&N edition on your shelf. Seems like a solid version for the price with good illustrations - am I right? Would you recommend? Cheers

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Yes I would! 😊

[@Danthehorse]

Fascinating books by the look. I find my taste moving more toward Folklore and Sorcery/witchcraft, more rooted in the land I live in. Love the look of the Botany book....

[@bagoyle]

Since 11 is the number of Magick, you should do a top 11 for next year.

[@franciscoadrianzen2908]

Has anyone else paused the video to gaze ecstatically at the titles displayed on the shelf? 🤤

[@FoolishFishBooks]

xD

[@خادمةيأس]

Thank you 🥀❤️

[@oaxacachaka]

Yay, 6 of mine made the list. Ever look into Transmutation Publishing? I really like their stuff. The books look very hand made (in a good way)and are really interesting. I would’ve nominated Lux Occulta. It helps if you’re a fan of Bertiaux and like his brand of Gnostic Masonic Voudon and how his students are applying his teachings. Oh, what were you blurring out at the beginning? Lol, I will refrain from any guesses.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Just the next entry on the list - avoiding spoilers ;) Thanks for the tip, I'll take a look!

[@oaxacachaka]

@@FoolishFishBooks no severed head? Disappointing, haha. J/k(you never know in the world of the occult).

[@Californology]

Very happy to have found your channel. Interesting and informative. You provide a great resource with respect to my occult practices. Keep up the great work. Thank you! Did I see some DC graphic novels on your bookshelf?!! :)

[@FoolishFishBooks]

The new Pantheon, yes! 😉

[@Californology]

@@FoolishFishBooks Cool!!!!

[@chillbraah684]

Hey Foolish Fish, thank you so much for your videos! I'm trying to find a video where you mentioned Cinderella being a story about men's psycology, and Rapunzel about women's psycology, or something along those lines. I have been perusing through your videos to find where you spoke about this to no avail. If you see this, could you please kindly point me in the right direction? Thanks yet again

[@FoolishFishBooks]

I think it was the one on the Divine feminine.

[@ileanamendez7583]

Terrific list! Thank you💫

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Glad you like it, @Ileana! Best wishes to you!

[@horrorjunkie96]

do you have an updated inventory with your entire collection categorised?

[@Kornwins]

Mr. Fish, pardon for the slightly off-topic question, but I'd like to ask your opinion on John Banes's work such as the Stellar Man and Developing the Inner World?

[@FoolishFishBooks]

I'm afraid I'm not familiar 😊

[@IBMikmaq]

is it possible to do a review on Frederick Hockley's books? I ordered all of his unlimited edition hardcovers that are new on Miskatonic books just two days ago.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

I don't have any of his books yet, but I'll keep an eye out.

[@keithcrook8591]

To echo the thoughts of a few others here, would love to see a review sometime of Dr. Skinner’s Crowley’s four books of magick. Love know you really respect his work and wouldn’t be surprised if he did an amazing job with it.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

It's unlikely to happen i'm afraid. I think Dr Skinner has his strengths (making essential grimoires accessible), and his weaknesses (opinionated writing style, dismissal of spiritual matters, book presentation). So no, for me, Weiser's Book 4 is the one 😉

[@keithcrook8591]

Will definitely check it out thanks!

[@sosigking6358]

I'll cop that grimoire thank you very much!

[@FoolishFishBooks]

😄👍

[@srmacaster]

in Josephine McCarthy's Initiate to Adept trilogy of books, does it equate to Golden Dawn minor, major, or exemptus adept level?

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Hmm... it's a very different system ;)

[@srmacaster]

@@FoolishFishBooks Yes, but I was referring to the level of knowledge, it is that the degrees of adeptus major and adeptus exemptus are super secret

[@mielipuolisiili7240]

In order to make such comparison we should have an objective person who has studied both systems extensively. I doubt that such person exists. Josephine herself has criticized Golden Dawn (thus implying that she is more of an authority on the subject and that her system is superior) and likewise I have no doubt that the practicioners of Golden Dawn would claim their system to be better. This type of "my way is the only way" -thinking seems to be pretty common in all areas of human expertise. My advice would be to try whatever makes most sense to you now and stick to it for as long as feels right to you. You might end up tapping out soon and starting to look for other systems or you might end up going on an occult adventure with your chosen system. Don't stress out too much about choosing the exact objectively correct path, for there is but one path before you - your path. Do what thou wilt.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

@@srmacaster I see. So no 😂

[@DonovanWert]

Le Pater!! Enough said. Blessed be 🙏

[@FoolishFishBooks]

If it had been released in 2021 it would be in the top spot!

[@DonovanWert]

@@FoolishFishBooks I guess I should look at the inside of my book LOL

[@TheOneandPrime]

I'm surprised at some of your choices 🤔 Occult Botany and Changeling beat out 'Book of Flesh and Feather' and 'Rod and Ring'. Content wise they may be on par but the quality of the actual physical books themselves is a no contest imo. To each their own, great list still :)

[@FoolishFishBooks]

This list is a contents only list ;) I'm obviously lkicking myself for not making that clear ;)

[@TheOneandPrime]

@@FoolishFishBooks that makes way more sense lol

[@TheZephyr2000]

Hi, Awesome list. I'm happy that some of my choices made the list! I was wondering, for the "Ars Notoria Version B" is there a book that might precede this one, and would it be necessary to have/read prior to this one? Thanks in advance.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

So yes, there is, and it's not so much necessary to have read it as it is to simply have it at hand to reference the images and text (if you're hoping to perform the working of course).

[@mvrko8064]

The book I'm waiting for is Skinners' "how to magic" . I hope he gets it out

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Ooh! I don't think I was aware of this. I'll keep an eye out for it!

[@mvrko8064]

@@FoolishFishBooks he mentioned in a glitch bottle podcast that he's working on a book where he presents the rituals which always work (if done correctly). But he still doesn't know if it's a smart thing to do..

[@FoolishFishBooks]

@@mvrko8064 ah! Interesting. I must have missed that. Thank you for the heads up!

[@TheOneandPrime]

Skinner has said a million times he will not write a how to book, did he change his mind?

[@mvrko8064]

@@TheOneandPrime idk, the only time I heard him talking about it was in one of glitch bottle podcasts

[@johnjean5648]

Have you ever try the ars notoria the method before if so can you tell , your experience with it

[@FoolishFishBooks]

No 😊

[@johnjean5648]

Do you just buy the book do a review or some research and after that put it on your shelf? Not even a bit curious if they work or not

[@savecoupons]

like the video oldys books are the best

[@blindi6326]

What do you think is the best audiobook service for these sorts of books? I would like to listen to some at work.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

I actually don't think any of the books on this list has an audiobook version...

[@blindi6326]

@@FoolishFishBooks Well that's a shame for sure, but I didn't necessarily mean just these books, but rather any books of the occult/esoteric side. Just wondering if there is a service that you use or could recommend? I would really appreciate the advice.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

@@blindi6326 I find Audible easy to use, but Google Books is definitely cheaper as a rule :)

[@sirpopsticks619]

I recommend the 3 magical books of Solomon

[@FoolishFishBooks]

No new edition in 2021. This is a top 10 of books that were published last year specifically 😊👍

[@abiolalafoucade9317]

I want to order one of the book what u guys think I should read and y

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Perfect intro to so many aspects of occult philosophy.

[@oldenmarlow339]

How about a Top Ten Occult Books? Have you already done that? If not can we get that one day?

[@FoolishFishBooks]

Check the Esoteric Saturdays playlist 😜

[@jotajotasaval2853]

Definitely modern magick by donald michael kraig

[@FoolishFishBooks]

From 2021?? 😜

[@protectyaneck8017]

What is the occult. What are u studying? Is any of this satanic?

[@francinebacone1455]

I can't help but noticed a huuuuuuuuge gap in the literature you cover when it comes to Native American traditions. I know it isn't because you're ignoring us deliberately, but I also can't help but conclude that this probably flows from the general rule to not discuss politics... After five centuries of genocidal extermination and the demonization of our traditions, Christians and Freemasons in particular sure did a number on us... It was literally illegal to meet and practice our traditional religions in the US and Canada - countries founded by great, celebrated masons - until the 1970s. One could almost say, we've been "occulted" by force.

[@FoolishFishBooks]

I'm afraid that the reason is much more pedestrian than that: there are a great many traditions that I've not yet got round to studying, and being based in Europe, the Native American tradition is not one that has directly influenced my society. I'm sure that if I were based in America, it would feature much higher on my list of "what to learn about next" 😅 There's also definitely the fact that I certainly wouldn't feel like I would be the right person to mansplain a tradition in which I took no part and that in no way influenced my own heritage. Maybe you can direct us to content creators who would be, however! 😊🙏 Best wishes to you!