I disagree. Unless you already have a background in occult, Far Eastern mysticism, Western Mystery tradition, astrology, Kabbalah and who know what else, the BoT is not the best place to start. In that light, it respects its readers perhaps too much. It is easy to look down on DuQuette, but his book is a primer, a very basic introduction. There is a difference between not liking something and saying it is objectively bad. DuQuette isn't the best, but he does have the advantage of having it all in one book.
Besides, how can you suggest to somebody who knows nothing to read the Book of Law? Not to mention 78 degrees focuses mainly in the RWS, as good a book as it is. Each to his own, of course, but your suggestions honestly baffle me.
) other books in between DuQuette and the Book of Thoth. I got a lot of mileage out of "The Qabailistic Tarot" by Robert Wang and "The Tarot, A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages" by Paul Foster Case when I was first exploring the esoteric side. I did read the Book of Thoth first, but it was kind of a big gulp to take all at once. These other books helped me to nibble away at it. A bit less chewing, as it were. Other authors to consider are Israel Regardie, Gareth Knight, and, for thorough explanations of the 22 paths, Frater Achad (a protege of Crowley) and Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki. All of my examples are from the '70s and early '80s. Others will surely have more recent favorites. Also, some of them like Wang's book are probably expensive now.
