# How to research the Book of Thoth? What is the Book of Thoth? This enigmatic book, published in 1944, does not reveal its secrets easily when studied in terms of tarot or, more precisely, TARO. Researching the Book of Thoth is not possible without researching Aleister Crowley, which is another problem in itself, for this man has become a collection memes that reduces him to a cardboard cut-out, an easy target for lazy journalists who trip out the "Wickedest Man" epithet in every article. It is as if Aleister Crowley has been deliberately magicked to distort our perception of him. Who could possibly do that? Well, the leaders of the O.T.O., that bastion of all things Crowley, in the USA, now state that their aim is to promote "Thelema", a word. that justifies pretty much anything they want it to mean. So, how do we research an entirely de-personalised man? By reading only the recommended book list of Libers graded A to E? By reading the O.T.O. authorised biographies that reduce Crowley to a pathetic creature desperately addicted to drugs and social climbing. These books are essentially a concatenation of stories where Crowley met various people of differing backgrounds and beliefs, which proves, er, he was good at meeting people. ## Who cares if Aleister Crowley met non-entities? These books are revelatory primarily because Crowley did not record most of these social interactions. So why is the OTO so interested in promoting the idea that Crowley invented the idea of social media long before the internet? Its a race to the bottom. The O.T.O. seem desperate to trivialise Crowley's life based on tittle-tattle and not much else, while bigging up the drug-taking sexual licentiousness. These days, being a bisexual drug addict with a media presence is hardly newsworthy. Making someone lesser than you says a lot about projection. These "biographies" are revelatory to people, who had no idea that Crowley met so and so on this date. That is not a biography, it is a glorified gossip column, with all the vitriol and bitchiness that entails. So why is it so important for the OTO to record and publish stories of Crowley's "social climbing"? The reason why Crowley never bothered to record them in his diaries is because they were not important to him. So why does the O.T.O. think it important? I have no idea. This is a revelation. If you want to study The Book of Thoth, why not begin with all his writings? His poetry, his articles, his books that are not prefaced with "Liber" tell us more about him, his life, philosophy, beliefs, practices etc. Put another way, the Book of Thoth is a summarisation of Crowley's entire system, not the cherry picking and invention presented by secret societies. Do yourself a favour, do your own research, and come to your own conclusions about The Book of Thoth and Aleister Crowley rather than being spoon-fed from specious group thought that passes for intelligent thinking.