Secrets of the Occult Audiobook By Richard B. Spence, The Great Courses cover art

Secrets of the Occult

Preview

Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Secrets of the Occult

By: Richard B. Spence, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Richard B. Spence
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.00

Buy for $25.00

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

From spirituality to politics and science, the occult has had an astonishing influence on the human experience across the centuries. It may surprise you to learn that everyday activities like attending church services or reading your daily horoscope all fit the broad definition of the occult. As you will see in the 24 illuminating episodes of Secrets of the Occult, the mystic and obscure are threaded through our ordinary lives in more ways than you may realize.

This revealing course is taught by Richard B. Spence, a Professor Emeritus at the University of Idaho, and covers a wide array of subjects and experiences that fall under the umbrella of the occult and stretch from the ancient world to the 21st century. According to Professor Spence, “Occultism posits that we inhabit a limited spectrum of reality within a much larger one. We’re arguably surrounded by a larger world that we normally can’t see, or touch, or knowingly interact with. This larger world is hidden or ‘occulted’ from us. However, the beliefs and practices broadly referred to as occultism aim to reveal, access—or even control—elements of this hidden world.” Throughout these episodes, you will uncover these hidden elements and consider what these revelations have to say about our perception of the world.

Whether you accept occult perspectives as possible truth or reject them as desperate fantasy, the occult still has something to say about our relationship to the world, and even to reality itself. Science has solved many of the great mysteries of the universe, and yet, there are still so many questions left unanswered. Could some of these answers be found in the realm of arcane knowledge and mystic beliefs? What can the occult teach us about the universe and our place in it? With this journey through the occult across the ages, you will get the chance to pull back the curtain shrouding these mysteries and decide for yourself.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 The Great Courses (P)2022 The Teaching Company, LLC
Occult Religious Studies
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Secrets of the Occult

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    97
  • 4 Stars
    26
  • 3 Stars
    17
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    5
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    87
  • 4 Stars
    16
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    82
  • 4 Stars
    18
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A better title would be “History of the Occult”

I’ve listened to several of the Great Courses and they are best described as introduction to . . . They are a good jumping off point if what you hear interests you and you want to know more. It would be nice if there was a for further reading section. The only difficulty I had with this course is that the narrator spoke too fast for my taste. I tried to slow down the narration but it made his voice sound like he was high. Otherwise, not a bad way to spend a few hours of your time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing course

loves it. it really kept the information very fun and informative how it was put together. each chapter by itself holds up and the over all listen was something I quite enjoyed very much

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well rounded non biased

Lots of information. Gives good starting points to further investigate . Non biased approach. Well narrated.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

the best

This is hands down the best The Great Courses audiobook that I have ever listened to! It wa sinformative, but oh sooo entertaining!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Mispronunciation is infuriating!

I like the story. It’s interesting. I like the narrator’s voice. What I can’t stand is the narrator’s many mispronunciation’s.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good overview

Relatively good overview of the paranormal but was light on a lot of details. E.G.: Crowley had ecstatic experience that led him to pursue that avenue of knowledge but it was never revealed what that experience was. Did describe the key fundamental of ‘personal will’ well though…

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome!

I could listen to the instructor teach anything. Great delivery, engaging voice and well organized.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Covers a lot, good details

Hello fellow audible listener. Wondering if your valuable credit should go toward learning about the esoteric? Thinking about dipping a toe into the often misunderstood world of the occult? Fear not, weary traveler, as this book will lead you to neither eternal damnation nor regret!

This great course does a wonderful job at touching on several topics. And while one might not think the occult and the renaissance would be interesting, or one might be fearful of what will be covered in satanism and the occult, this is not a how-to lecture series of any sort. It’s just good, wholesome learning!

If you are a fan of ANY the following shows, feel comforted knowing a credit could be spent on much worse books: a haunting, true detective, ancient aliens, Rick and Morty, unexplained, (insert any other show that covers topics that touch on magick, secret societies, lesser-known history, and the super/preternatural).

Honestly, you will enjoy these talks if “the occult” has ever been of interest to you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A nice collection of stories

This looks s a nice collection of stories. The Professor is very good at teaching.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent lectures

I Loved this! It was easy to listen to and absorb. Gives a great perspective of occult influence in our world.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!