This is a pretty good overview of the concept of magic from ancient times to the 20th century; if you've already read much on the history of magic, you're not going to run into much that's new. If you haven't, this is best as a jumping-off place rather than the be-all and end-all. Modern pagan movements get a little bit of short shrift, but since it's a short book everything gets the quick-and-dirty treatment. The real problem, other than the lack of detail, is that Cavendish's writing is deadly, deadly dull. This became my before-bed reading precisely because there was no danger I'd get wrapped up in it and read past my bedtime.

This is one of those weird books that I can't really recommend, but I also don't have any compelling reason NOT to recommend it; it's sort of a pure middle-of-the road book, not terribly bad, not terribly good. ( )