When I purchased this book it was as a seeker relatively new to witchcraft. I wasn't really interested in the religious aspects of the craft and wanted a better understanding of Wicca and its practice. It was difficult for me to find comprehensive reading material accessable to a non-Wiccan. This book met that need. I highly suggest reading it if you are new to Wicca. Michaud is not a romantic writer, as many Wiccan authors seem to be. As such, this book was a great relief to me. She provides you with a very good analysis of witchcraft in this book without an overemphasis on ritual. Buy it.