Richard Kaczynski (born November 10, 1963) is an American writer and lecturer in the fields of social psychology, metaphysical beliefs and new religious movements. He is known for his biography of the occultist Aleister Crowley, Perdurabo: The Life of Aleister Crowley, described by The Times Literary Supplement as "the major biography to date", and by Didrik Søderlind in the Norwegian daily Aftenposten as the best biography of Crowley.
Kaczynski is also a keyboard player for the band House of Usher.
Academic background
Kaczynski holds a Bachelor of Science degree, master's degrees, and a PhD in social psychology from Wayne State University. He has held positions as assistant professor at Wayne State School of Medicine, research associate and affiliate at Yale University's Department of Psychiatry. He was also an adjunct instructor of orthodontics at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry.
He has published dozens of articles in academic peer-reviewed journals in areas ranging from national program evaluation of comprehensive work therapy, and multi-site clinical trials of treatment efficacy for bipolar disorder (STEP-BD), schizophrenia (CATIE) and Alzheimer's (CATIE).
Metaphysical background
Kaczynski has been a student of Thelema since 1977, and a lecturer on magick since 1990. Within OTO he has been a very active member, and has done editorial duties on several publications including Neshamah and the proceedings books for its US biennial national conference. He appeared on Canada's Drew Marshall radio show on June 25, 2011, where he was described as the "world’s leading expert on Aleister Crowley"
Works
Kaczynski's occult writings have appeared in various magazines including High Times, The Magical Link, Neshamah, Cheth, Mezlim, Eidolon, and Different Worlds. His medical and psychological writing has appeared in several publications in those fields.
Books
The Revival of Magick and Other Essays by Aleister Crowley. Hymenaeus Beta and Richard Kaczynski, ed. New Falcon, 1998. . Perdurabo: The Life of Aleister Crowley. New Falcon Publications, 2002. Perdurabo Outtakes. Blue Equinox, 2005. Panic in Detroit: The Magician and the Motor City. Blue Equinox, 2006. The Weiser Concise Guide to Aleister Crowley (co-authored with James Wasserman). Weiser Books, 2009. Beauty and Strength: Proceedings of the Sixth Biennial National Ordo Templi Orientis Conference R. Kaczynski, ed., BookSurge Publishing, 2009. Perdurabo, Revised and Expanded Edition: The Life of Aleister Crowley 2nd ed., North Atlantic Books. Forgotten Templars, The Untold Origins of the Ordo Templi Orientis, 2012