Pagans/Wiccans: What is the best book, in your opinion, about the history of Paganism/Wicca?

For generalized Paganism for beginners, try "Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions," by Higgenbotham. His info on Wicca isn't super accurate though, because he's not Wiccan, but the rest is good. Also good for Paganism with a heavily Wiccan flavor: "Creating Circles and Ceremonies," by the Zell-Ravenhearts For Wicca: "A Witch's Bible Compleat," by Janet and Stewart Farrar (NOT the Frosts) "The Circle, Cubed: Erecting the Temple in Four Dimensions," by MacMorgan-Douglas is EXCELLENT For Eclectic Paganism: "The Second Circle: Tools for the Advancing Pagan," by Venecia Rauls There are those who recommend Cunningham, and I'm going to say that I don't recommend him (and breath in sharply because Paul and I agree on something...wow).

I don't recommend him because, speaking as a 3rd degree Wiccan, Cunningham CLEARLY did not have a full Wiccan education when he wrote his famous Wicca series and therefore, although much of what is in his books is good, if watered down, some of his "facts" are completely, utterly, and egregiously wrong because he is writing from the viewpoint of a first degree in a 3 degree system. He jacked up several entire generations of solitary Wiccans due to this and the religion might never recover. If one more noob quotes Cunningham at me when I tell them the real meaning of the 3-fold return, I will not be responsible for my actions.

Cunningham grotesquely misunderstood it because you don't get the meaning of the 3-fold return until 2nd degree. So yeah...no Cunningham please. Not if you want to have an ACTUAL education.

I recommend a newly published book by an official Druidic association title Sacred Fires by Kirk S. Thomas. Kirk is a leading Druid priest who has just published a great book that discusses the neopagan attitude of reciprocity with the gods and elementals.

It contains perspective, ethics, practices, and historical information that is accurate (which you will not find in books by the Farrars et al.).

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.