Originally written for a young adult audience, this book takes a historical view of magic. It is primarily a collection of some of the many ways in which humans have dabbled in the occult. Following a general summary of the prehistoric origins of magic, the author goes on to describe the features which developed. The different types of magicians and the various ways they performed their sorcery; the sciences of magic -- alchemy, soothsaying, medical magic; and the types of supernatural beings which have been believed in, are all surveyed. Throughout the book the author emphasizes his point that ""... all magic is black in the sense that it clouds man's reason and stunts his growth toward wisdom."" The subject is much too broad for coverage to be complete, but this is a reasonable overall view of the history of magic, and it includes a great deal of fascinating detail.

This is a paperback printing published by Dell in 1975. It is in good condition, and the pages are clean and tight. Please see photos for details.