The New Hermetics, by Jason Augustus Newcomb, describes a streamlined, "non-sectarian" training program in the basics of Western magic. It treats magic as a system of training the mind and placing it in contact with cosmic consciousness. You don't have to join a group, dress up in a funny costume, or learn to pronounce Hebrew words; you can, however, go to his website (newhermetics.com) and download free workbooks to go with the material, or buy CDs of the book's exercises. Since 90% of it is descriptions of magical exercises, it is a very fast read, but quite engaging. Newcombe describes the work simply, clearly, in small and manageable steps, accompanied by rather entertaining cartoon-like diagrams. My only complaint pertains to the system rather than to the book itself; having worked with some of the material, I find it a little too cerebral, something that is all "in the head" without being carried out in ritual and enacted symbol. Nevertheless, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who's interested in magic, the occult, and hermeticism.