I highly recommend The Ocean of Theosophy by William Quan Judge and The Key to Theosophy by H P Blavatsky. These two books will give the beginner and anyone interested in Theosophy a background of beliefs and cover a wide range of topics. I shall give a bit of a side note regarding the end of the world or 2012. In a paper given to me by my mentor L D , William Quan Judge predicted New York City will be under water in the year 2040.