Gary Lachman is the author of several books about the links between consciousness, culture, and the western esoteric tradition, including Rudolf Steiner: An Introduction to His Life and Work; Jung the Mystic: The Esoteric Dimensions of Carl Jungs Life and Teachings: In Search of P.D Ouspensky; and A Secret History of Consciousness. He is a regular contributor to newspaper columns and radio programmes. A founder member of the rock group Blondie, in 2006 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He lives in London.
'This book provides a very readable introduction to the history of
Western Esotericism. However, the most exciting aspect of the book
is Lachman's thesis that Hermeticism is grounded in a common
spiritual or religious experience and that this experience can be
grounded in recent neuropsychological research. This fascinating
hypothesis invites further
investigation.'
-- De Numine
'Truly great individuals are discussed for centuries after their
existence. "The Quest for Hermes Trismegistus: From Ancient Egypt
to the Modern World" discusses this figure of ancient Alexandria
who is an icon of ancient science and philosophy, as the two were
closely related in ancient times. Analyzing history and the mindset
of the times, author Gary Lachman hopes to explain this figure to
modern reader s to give them greater insight into a time long past.
"The Quest for Hermes Trismegistus" is an excellent addition to any
history collection, highly recommended.'
-- Midwest Book Review, May 2011
'It is a bewildering tale which has many twists and turns which
Lachman considers not only in its historical but also cultural and
philosophical connections across time.
He also helps us unravel the development of hermecticism,
Gnosticism, and connections across the ages to such seminal and
initiatory characters as Rudolf Steiner, G.I. Gurdjeff, Giordano
Bruno, Marcilio Ficino, Pico Mirandolla, Cornelius Agrippa, Robert
Fludd, Dr John Dee, and Athansius Kircher.'
-- Stephen Cox Trust, 2011
'Gary Lachman offers us a fascinating history of the myth of Hermes
Trismegistus and the translation of the Corpus Hermeticum
This is
a comprehensive book covering all aspects of the tradition of
Hermes,
from the early periods through to modern explorations of Hermetic
science as it resonates with altered states of consciousness.
Lachman is an easy to read author yet has a near encyclopaedic
knowledge of esotericism and is hence able to offer many different
perspectives on the subject at hand. From the Egyptian influence on
Greek philosophy to Islam and the Renaissance, Freemasons and the
Rosicrucians this is a truly informative journey through all
aspects of Hermes Trismegistus.'
-- Living Traditions Magazine
'Immensely erudite and continuing the work of GRS Mead and Frances
Yates, the book traces the influence of hermetic thinking through
different areas of the Western tradition drawing on a wide range of
scholarship. It gives the reader quite a different flavour of the
development of Western philosophy than would be found in any
standard textbook.'
--David Lorimer, Scientific and Medical Network Review
'Here is an entertaining, mostly historical introduction to a body
of religious knowledge that has a deep influence on the course of
Western philosophy - Hermeticism
This is a concise and interesting
introduction. Lachman covers much historical ground from
Alexandria, via the Italian Renaissance and the Order of the Golden
Dawn, to today.'
-- Northern Earth
'Lachman's [book] at times is quite a deep study of the philosophy
and psychology of esoteric sprituality.'
--David V Barrett, Fortean Times.
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