Diary of a Drug Fiend

Reading this was a visceral experience. It's description of the depths of addiction and psychosis was gut wrenching and because it was so nuanced, strange and terrifying it seems clearly to have sprung from Crowley's own experience. The narration unexpectedly switched between the two main characters......more

I read this book when I found out the man I was dating -- the first beautiful love of my life -- was addicted to a wide variety of illicit drugs. Then I sent it to him and became a feminist. Our relationship did not end so well, but still probably as well as it could have and now he runs a children'......more

Not only is this among the first* reasonably honest examinations of "recreational" drug use, the consequences of addiction, and an avenue toward treatment, it also serves as a good narrative introduction to Crowley's conceptions of both Magick ("the art and science of causing change in conformity wi......more

Back when I was doing lots of drugs and knew lots of people doing drugs and liked to say the word 'drugs' I thought this was a great book. In retrospect, I was just high and whatnot.......more

Aleister Crowley achieves and surpasses what many authors have aspired to and failed, that is, he has written a classic novel in a rich poetic and deeply passionate style without ever once seeming forced or “assembled.” Crowley’s classic was not “written” or “assembled” as in a formula creation. It’......more