Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
challenging
informative
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
slow-paced
This was a small collection of writings from a number of hermetic sources, purportedly from Hermes Trismegistus (the reincarnation or third return of Thoth-Hermes.) They speak to the place of the human mind and spirit in relation to Atum (the collective consciousness sometimes referred to as God, but not quite the right context.) "Words lead us to the doorway of Truth, but only by contemplating their meaning can we pass through."
This my introduction to the whole field of Gnostic studies, so I was looking for something basic.
It's organized into a series of short passages with introductions, each on some different themes. There's also a short essay on the background of the texts, and some general principles.
It goes into very little detail about the ways in which the original texts relate to present-day religions. That's not its function.
It's background -- I have a set of more clueful questions now to explore.
One thing -- I know it's an introduction, but given the centuries of scholarship, I would have liked to know where the translation is from and a hint at the axes to grind in this respect. Nowhere does this say it's a new translation -- would have liked a little more forthcomingness in this regard.
Good first intro. Let's see how it holds up in its subsequent translations and commentary.
It's organized into a series of short passages with introductions, each on some different themes. There's also a short essay on the background of the texts, and some general principles.
It goes into very little detail about the ways in which the original texts relate to present-day religions. That's not its function.
It's background -- I have a set of more clueful questions now to explore.
One thing -- I know it's an introduction, but given the centuries of scholarship, I would have liked to know where the translation is from and a hint at the axes to grind in this respect. Nowhere does this say it's a new translation -- would have liked a little more forthcomingness in this regard.
Good first intro. Let's see how it holds up in its subsequent translations and commentary.
So much profundity in such a short book. I read this book while watching Adam Elenbaas’ 11 part YouTube series about this book. This is a wonderful paraphrase of the Hermetica, a cornerstone of Western culture.
challenging
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced