THE STUDY OF WITCHCRAFT: A GUIDEBOOK TO ADVANCED WICCA provides a compendium of facts for Wiccan practitioners who want to further their knowledge and insights into their traditions. But it's more than your usual Wiccan guide - it examines history, psychology, divination and more, surveying literature and studies alike. Information for all types of Wiccans, from traditional to solitary and radical, makes for an important basic introductory guide to different Wiccan paths and choices.

The title of this book suggests that it is for more advanced Pagans, but I would recommend it for beginners. While it does expect you to understand the the spirituality and basic practices of the religion, it covers other aspects beginning Wiccans may want to know.
Outside of an excellent section covering the history of the religion, the rest of it is mostly the social aspects of the religion in our modern society. It is not a spiritual guide, more of a practical education. Lipp does have a more spiritual book, "The Elements of Ritual".

The thing that I really liked about this book was the study sections in the back of each chapter. It is set up so that a person can read and study the topics on their own, or groups can read and convene on a regular basis, sharing what they have learned. Having access to more references really rounds out the experience. Personally, I would recommend it to 1st year students of Wicca, preferably in a group, but not as a first book.