This book is a sequel to Dr. Steiner's earlier book entitled Theosophy. Generally speaking, Occult Science deals with the evolution of Man and the Earth. It was originally published in German as, Die Geheimwissenschaft Im Umriss.

Old Moon Evolution, Old Sun Evolution, and Old Saturn Evolution are dealt with in considerable detail. These three evolutions are previous to the present Earth Evolution. Each one in its turn developed its respective qualities, the results of which are incorporated in the life on Earth today.

Other than prefaces and addenda, the contents are:
    The Character of Occult Science
    The Nature of Humanity
    Sleep and Death
    Man and the Evolution of the World
    Knowledge of the Higher Worlds,
        Concerning Initiation
    Present and Future Evolution of the
        World and of Mankind
    Details from the Domain of Spiritual Science:
        The Ether-Body of Man
        The Astral World
        Man's Life after Death
        The Stages of Man's Life
        Higher Regions of the Spiritual World
        The Members of Man's Being
        The State of Consciousness in Dreaming
        The Way to Supersensible Cognition
        The Observation of Particular Events
            and Beings