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The Well-Read Witch: Essential Books for Your Magickal Library
With reviews of over 400 books, this is an essential handbook for anyone interested in reading about the magickal world of Witchcraft -- as well as related topics of interest to any Wiccan practitioner.
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2001
6 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Carl McColman
37 books112 followersCarl McColman writes about the spiritual life, covering topics like mysticism (The Big Book of Christian Mysticism), contemplative prayer (Answering the Contemplative Call), monastic spirituality (Befriending Silence), Celtic traditions (An Invitation to Celtic Wisdom), Paganism (The Complete Idiot's Guide to Paganism), and Wicca (When Someone You Love is Wiccan).
He is also a blogger (www.patheos.com/blogs/carlmccolman) and podcaster(www.encounteringsilence.com) .
Why did Carl McColman, a Catholic author, write books about Paganism? Read the answer here: www.patheos.com/blogs/carlmccolman/20...
He is also a blogger (www.patheos.com/blogs/carlmccolman) and podcaster(www.encounteringsilence.com) .
Why did Carl McColman, a Catholic author, write books about Paganism? Read the answer here: www.patheos.com/blogs/carlmccolman/20...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 21, 2025
Carl McColman’s “The Well-Read Witch: Essential Books for Your Magickal Library” was published almost twenty-five years ago, so it is a bit dated. However, it provides some good resources. This book reminds me of bibliographies that graduate students create just prior to their candidacy exams. Unfortunately, this book is not as comprehensive as it could have been.
McColman is honest about his reasoning for the inclusion of, and exclusion of, the differing books. At the time, the author kept a website and asked others for books that they think were critical to a Wiccan reading list. McColman also included books that he personally thought were well-written and important for individuals interested in this religion.
The books were arranged in three parts, much like a PhD candidacy bibliography. These parts were then subdivided into a number of different chapters. While McColman included critical books like “Aradia,” Starhawk’s “The Spiral Dance,” and many others, he left out a diverse number of important works that were available to readers at the time that this book was published.
At the end of the book, McColman lists a bibliography of all of the books that he included. However, he could have easily eliminated this if he had included a complete citation for each book in the text. Instead, he only listed the name and title of the book just above his annotations.
Despite this book’s limitations, this is a book that is well worth perusing. Keep in mind, however, that this book is not comprehensive by any means and lacks some critical works, so this is not a be-all-and-end-all guide.
McColman is honest about his reasoning for the inclusion of, and exclusion of, the differing books. At the time, the author kept a website and asked others for books that they think were critical to a Wiccan reading list. McColman also included books that he personally thought were well-written and important for individuals interested in this religion.
The books were arranged in three parts, much like a PhD candidacy bibliography. These parts were then subdivided into a number of different chapters. While McColman included critical books like “Aradia,” Starhawk’s “The Spiral Dance,” and many others, he left out a diverse number of important works that were available to readers at the time that this book was published.
At the end of the book, McColman lists a bibliography of all of the books that he included. However, he could have easily eliminated this if he had included a complete citation for each book in the text. Instead, he only listed the name and title of the book just above his annotations.
Despite this book’s limitations, this is a book that is well worth perusing. Keep in mind, however, that this book is not comprehensive by any means and lacks some critical works, so this is not a be-all-and-end-all guide.
August 19, 2009
Here's help for anyone with a sincere interest in Wiccan ways find the best books to read. With reviews of over four hundred books, this will be an essential
handbook for anyone interested in reading about the magical world of Witchcraft-as well as related topics of interest to any Wiccan practitioner.
Informative introductory chapters provide a basic overview of Wiccan spirituality, as well as a thoughtful look at the role of the written word in this
originally oral tradition. Beginning, intermediate, and advanced Wiccan books are included, as are general books on paganism, magic, and Celtic spirituality.
The author reviews books related to topics such as herbalism, mythology, environmentalism, psychic development, spiritual healing, and raising a family
in the Wiccan tradition. All in all, the books highlighted make up a lifetime's worth of reading, for both beginning and seasoned Witches, as well as anyone
else with an interest in nature spirituality.
this book was fabulous and will provide a lifetime of reading for me. As McColman says, this is just a start and some books that might point you in the direction of books you might want to explore. I have already started making a list of books I want to explore, since there are so many of them. McColman's book when Someone you Love is Wiccan was fabulous and he continues his good advice here in this book. I have a few more of his books on my shelves I can't wait to delve into.
handbook for anyone interested in reading about the magical world of Witchcraft-as well as related topics of interest to any Wiccan practitioner.
Informative introductory chapters provide a basic overview of Wiccan spirituality, as well as a thoughtful look at the role of the written word in this
originally oral tradition. Beginning, intermediate, and advanced Wiccan books are included, as are general books on paganism, magic, and Celtic spirituality.
The author reviews books related to topics such as herbalism, mythology, environmentalism, psychic development, spiritual healing, and raising a family
in the Wiccan tradition. All in all, the books highlighted make up a lifetime's worth of reading, for both beginning and seasoned Witches, as well as anyone
else with an interest in nature spirituality.
this book was fabulous and will provide a lifetime of reading for me. As McColman says, this is just a start and some books that might point you in the direction of books you might want to explore. I have already started making a list of books I want to explore, since there are so many of them. McColman's book when Someone you Love is Wiccan was fabulous and he continues his good advice here in this book. I have a few more of his books on my shelves I can't wait to delve into.
August 9, 2014
The best thing about this book is that it organizes books into categories for the interested Pagan (well, mostly Wiccan) reader. I liked that it had recommendations for certain demographics or people interested in a certain level or subject of witchcraft or Paganism, and though there was definitely a noticeable emphasis on Wicca as a path, it did have some of the older stuff and various paths mentioned. There are also far more beginners' books than any other type, but considering how many instructional books published are introductory, I guess that makes sense too. I do think of course that it's the nature of such books to become outdated almost as soon as they are published. For this sort of information, a website makes more sense.
August 19, 2008
An excellent Witches' resource for books! I read through it and added its suggestions to my own list!
August 26, 2012
Great list of resources. But there is so much more now, I'd love to see an updated & revised edition.
February 18, 2023
A great resource for resources
Carl McColman is good at just giving enough information on the subject if you want to continue. Then he gives their reverences on where you can continue.
This book allows you to hit the deck running. While no book can be the end all be all book on a wide range of related subjects, the author does do a great job in creating a general outline of books and websites on several topics worth reading.
I was able to find websites that lead to local shops in the neighborhood. This changes the theoretical into the practical.
Carl McColman is good at just giving enough information on the subject if you want to continue. Then he gives their reverences on where you can continue.
This book allows you to hit the deck running. While no book can be the end all be all book on a wide range of related subjects, the author does do a great job in creating a general outline of books and websites on several topics worth reading.
I was able to find websites that lead to local shops in the neighborhood. This changes the theoretical into the practical.
April 29, 2018
I already owned or had the majority of the books listed on my wishlist, but was pleasantly surprised at the number of books reviewed that I'd never even heard of, which are now added to my list. I did like the way he separated the levels of previous knowledge into chapters.
January 1, 2023
I highly recommend this to anyone interested in a deep dive into classic esoteric works.
(2020)
(2020)
July 26, 2015
Tem muitos livros válidos, e a divisão por temas é muito interessante. O problema é que esse autor parece obstinado em dizer que para ser bruxa, você tem que ter, necessariamente um professor, um mestre ou alguém mais velho que te ensine. O que pensó não ser verdade. Também senti um tom de zombaria em relação à tradição eclética, quando ele chama por exemplo, de "salada de tudo"... Além disso, tem essa repetição do livro "The spiral dance" da Starhawk, que é um ótimo livro, e foi um dos primeiros a que tive acesso quando comecei na Arte há 10 anos atrás, mas Carl McColman me parece meio tiete demais. O autor também deixa de lado alguns livros e autores interessantes, que poderiam ter sido incluídos, além de algunas introduções nos capítulos não serem extremamente necessárias por serem repetitivas.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews