Richard Smoley and Jay Kinney, both editors for Gnosis magazine, have done an astounding job with collecting the majority of lesser known western faiths, and placing them in a easily readable format. Exploring everything from Gnostic Christianity to the Santeria religions of the Caribbean, Kinney and Smoley use floral language and informative resources to present a non-biased and idealogical explanation for the main tenets and history of several lesser known paths.

For the most part, their theology is credible, and their history is concise. The book also provides the reader with extensive suggested further reading lists at the end of each section. If religion and studies of the divine is your forte, Hidden Wisdom is a must-read, and must-read now. As a practicing Pagan, this book was immensely interesting, and I couldn't put it down.

Richard Smoley, former editor of the (lamentably) defunct magazine "Gnosis," has written an excellent introduction to the Western Mystery Tradition in all of its major forms: Hermeticism, Wicca, esoteric Christianity, Sufism, and "the Fourth Way," among others. As always, Smoley is balanced, objective, fair, and - above all - sane. There is nothing of the fanatic or obscurantist about Smoley, and he blends a wide knowledge of the field with bits of humor and insights gained from personal experience.

Smoley is an excellent writer - intelligent and engaging, without being pedantic or superficial. I have only one caveat about this book: those already familiar with these topics - including former readers of "Gnosis" - might find that the book covers familiar territory and offers little that is new. Still, even these readers might find it useful as a reference. But for those new to these topics, you couldn't do better than start with this book; Smoley is a trusted guide in a field too often inhabited by quacks, cultists, and uncritical enthusiasts.