Reincarnation and the Law of Karma

Reincarnation and the Law of Karma is a book by William Walker Atkinson, first published in 1908. In this clear, systematic study Atkinson examines the doctrines of reincarnation and karma from historical, philosophical and practical angles, arguing that the idea of repeated lives and moral cause-and-effect offers a more coherent explanation of human suffering, talent and spiritual progress than single-life models.

Written in the reflective, instructional style common to early New Thought and occult literature, the book surveys Hindu and Western traditions, discusses past lives and memory, and sets out how the law of karma shapes moral responsibility and personal evolution. Atkinson — a prolific New Thought author who often presented Eastern ideas for Western audiences — frames reincarnation as a working doctrine: one that explains talent, temperament and the soul’s gradual refinement across lifetimes. This makes the work a go-to title for those researching historical occult writing, early 20th-century spiritualism, or introductory primers on karma and reincarnation.