A unique tome, for sure. I find myself looking for tips from time-to-time - but keep in mind this book was written over fifty years ago and many of the materials that he uses are difficult to find, prohibitively expensive, or just plain wierd. And I love wierd. "the Slumber with a Key" is something I'll have to test someday, but I wonder if I'll ever have the time, space and inclination to construct a retrospective sequence of aranariums.
Of particular amusement is his "Dalinian Analysis" system of rating painters (he even rates himself) according to categories such as Genius, Composition, Mystery, Authenticity,etc. In short, he adores Raphael, Vermeer, and Velasquez; and chaffes at Picasso, Mondrian, and (with grace) really lets Cezanne have it, so to speak. Also amusing are the descriptions of various sympathy/antipathy relationships between counterparts found in nature.
A peculiar and inspiring work.