OK, I did not really 'read' this one so much as skim through stopping here and there to read bits and pieces. There is some good information in here (the reason for two stars rather than one). It is also possible that the book got better as it went along, though I am not so sure of that.
There were a number of things about this book that rubbed me the wrong way and prevented me from enjoying, and fully reading, the text.
>They use Wiccan and Witch interchangeably. Some agree with this practice, others do not. But there is no discussion of this use of terminology nor the disagreements about it.
>There are a number of grand, sweeping statements about how 'witches/Wiccans believe this, and witches/Wiccans believe that, and withces/Wiccans believe the other'. There seems to be the assumption that because those particular two witches/Wiccans believe something therefore we all believe it. Nothing could be further from the truth.
> (related to above) It often seemed like the writers had they idea that 'I/we think this therefore it is necessarily part of the craft' or 'I/we think this therefore you MUST believe this too' (and yes, they say 'must' and 'absolutely necessary' and 'every witch...' etc. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong.
>The book often came across as condescending and patronizing, especially toward those who do not believe or practise in the way that the authors do.
>(related to above) In comparing something that supposedly 'all witches believe' vs. what other people believe the expression "Lesser mortals" was used. Seriously.... I understand that many of so-called fundamentalists in several of the major world religions create a hierarchy of humanity based on belief systems and belief systems alone (rather than say, character, actions, etc.). However, I had no idea that Pagans practised this practice. It is surprising to have seen it here. It is offensive that it is put in an 'us against them' form that implies, and even states, that all of us feel that way.
>The book is very ethnocentric, e.g. 'there is a worldwide mania for angels'. Really? Only if you count Europe and N. America as being 'The World' (and if you ignore the millions of people in those geographic regions who are not participating in the so-called mania). Again, 'I do this therefore everyone does' lens is in play.
>They put toad, frogs, and newts under 'furry' creatures... hmmm... someone needs to go outside more, or at least use the search function on their computer more. Did this book not have an editor or fact checker?
>Leanna dislikes spiders, therefore spiders are undesirable (again the 'I feel this way therefore it belongs to the entire belief system' form of philosophy). Spiders are actually quite beautiful creatures, I for one welcome them to my home whenever I see them.
>There is a description of indulgent-parent-look-how-cute expression of cats running around the neighbourhood killing critters. OK, yes, arguably ridding the community of rats might be good. However, killing off songbirds (which was also found to be 'cute and desirable') is wrong. Overall, in fact, allowing a cat to run loose in the outdoors is irresponsible both toward the cat and toward the many creatures that they maim and kill along the way. Don't believe me? Speak to any animal rescue shelter about the impact of domestic cats on local songbird populations.
>The book contains many elements that seem to belong to other belief systems - destined paths, punishment in the afterlife, not being 'allowed' to have negative thoughts, etc. In all of my readings, I have rarely, if ever, seen these included in Pagan belief systems. Again, the authors take personal beliefs, I suspect many leftover from the religions they were born into, and present these beliefs as 'The Witches/Wiccan Way'.
And so on, but I really stopped reading and started skimming around that time so got the overall gist but not the details after that. And really, if I am not allowed to have negative thoughts than that was probably for the best ;-).
Overall, this book has some good ideas but it also had many annoying parts. It is a bit scary that someone new to the craft might read this book and think that this is actually 'how it is done'. Witches and Wiccans are a diverse group of people with similarities in beliefs and practices but also a HUGE variety in beliefs and practices. It does the newcomer, and the whole community, a disservice to write this type of book that dictates a particular set of beliefs and practices with virtually no acknowledgement* that others have a very different way of doing things that are equally valid.
*I came across one fairly dismissive sentence that acknowledged that there are other ways of being a Witch/Wiccan but no real discussion of it at all. Perhaps the authors include those with a different way of practising the craft as being among the lesser mortals? It certainly seemed that way...