Books about Kabbalah

The Essential Kabbalah: Heart of Jewish Mysticism, The

by Daniel C. Matt

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"This is the first book that I ever read on the Kabbalah and I would recommend it as the best starting place to anyone who is interested in the subject. The reason I recommend it over Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism (by Gershom Scholem, arguably the most important and influential scholar in this area) is because this book gets the reader directly in touch with the texts (and, thanks to the commentary, the meanings derived from them) that make up what has come to be known as "Kabbalah."Matt divides his book into sections by topic and each entry contains an excerpt from a text that fits the particular topic. ..."

A New Earth, An Old Deception: Awakening to the Dangers of Eckhart Tolle's #1 Bestseller

by Richard Abanes

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"Mr. Abanes obviously despises Eckhart Tolle to the max. Sometimes he is using more than 10 "diminutives" per page to emotionally underline his position of hatred. A voice similarly used by other doctrinaire sources such as Communism, Nazism or the very same ancient Catholic Church which only too much loved burning people alive for their opinions, not so long ago. ..."

Modern Magick: Eleven Lessons in the High Magickal Arts (Llewellyn's High Magick)

by Donald Kraig

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"After all those years of wondering about magick and trying to find a book which really teaches you the REAL secrets of magick, this book wins the ultimate MUST HAVE. Very good for those who are starters in Magick. This book lets you understand and learn the Whats, the Hows, and the Whens of Magick. ..."

Jewish Meditation: A Practical Guide

by Aryeh Kaplan

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"As far as I know, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan (may he rest in peace) was the first Orthodox rabbi to write about Jewish meditation for the general public. He did so because his own teachers recognized that American Jews in the 60s and 70s were growing up without knowledge of these traditions, and were therefore abandoning Judaism for other religions in order to be "more spiritual." Hence this and other books by Kaplan on Jewish meditation.Kaplan's books are still considered to be among the most authentic on the market, and are kosher even among the Orthodox and Hasidic branches of Judaism. ..."

The Power of Kabbalah: Technology for the Soul

by Yehuda Berg

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"I'll start with the good stuff. This book challenges you to look at life in a different way. To actually seek out challenges in life, not to avoid them. True spiritual growth comes from taking advantage of life's tribulations. I can totally agree with that. This book also encourages people to give up the "culture of victimhood" and leave it behind. ..."

Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation

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"Before his tragic death, Rabbi Kaplan was a practicing Kabbalist who wrote several ground-breaking books on Kabbalah. Notably, he wrote 3 books on Jewish Meditation and commentaries on both the Sefer Yetzirah and the Book Bahir. His Sefer Yetzirah provides considerable commentary and explanation of the text, though much of it is still a mystery--so don't expect a complete exposition of a definitive sort. ..."

The Spiritual Rules of Engagement: How Kabbalah Can Help Your Soul Mate Find You

by Yehuda Berg

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"Apparently K. Zukowski didn't read this book; I did. It's a valuable, practical guide to understanding the energy of life and using it as we're supposed to. It provides the tools we all need to make the right choices in our lives. No cookie cutter answer that if you pray and wait, God will step in and fix it all for you. ..."

The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet (Artscroll (Mesorah Series))

by Michael L. Munk

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"The story is told how Rebbe Nachman of Breslov once suffered from amnesia and could not remember any of the Torah he had learned. In desperation, he asked one of his disciples to recite the Hebrew alphabet. He did -- and the Rebbe's memory came back to him. After reading this excellent book, you will understand how that is possible. ..."

Kabbalah: A Love Story

by Lawrence Rabbi Kushner

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"Vladimir Nabokov, who taught literature to Cornell undergrads in the '50s, opined that one ought to read books twice. Only after you know the twists in the plot and how it all turns out are you free to fully experience the book. I believe it, but only rarely have I followed his advice.
I enjoyed reading Kushner's "Kabbalah: A Love Story" when it appeared a few weeks ago. ..."

Zohar: The Book of Enlightenment (Classics of Western Spirituality)

by Daniel Chanan Matt

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"This is the most interesting anthology of Zohar literature I have seen. Though the anthology represents only 5% of the whole Zohar, it is translated in a uniquely modern style. It is translated as poetry, which is highly original, and a very comprehensive introduction and very detailed notes explain the Kabbalistic meanings to the average reader. ..."