Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot: A comprehensive guide to unlocking your inner potential through Tarot

I have bought this book for the second time and I have it as an ebook. I am listening to the excellent Audible recording and annotating this copy. (Yes, it's unforgivable but it's my book, so I will personalise it if I want!) Rachel Pollack was one of the first voices I heard when I started studying Tarot in the 1970s and she is still my favourite writer on the subject. Her knowledge and wisdom is matched by her enthusiasm and clarity of writing. The book itself is a serious work, to be read - not just glanced at. It is illustrated by line drawings of the Smith-Waite deck but it is not a glossy coffee table book, it is a work of research. It has 370 pages with no wasted space. It isn't a really "New Age" text, it is an assistant to your analysis of the cards. You do not need to have faith in a god: you don't need to believe in Angels, divination or spirit guides. This book can be enjoyed and be useful whatever and point you view it from. I first had this in two volumes but this single volume is so much better, comprehensive and a good solid read. Can you tell that I really rate this book highly? If you only get one book on Tarot, this should be it. You might find it's the only one you will ever need.

The major arcana are explored in depth from all possible angles, and give the reader a broad image of the message that that card has to convey . Also very useful and relevant are the relationships between the cards of the major arcana. The depth as well as the subtlety in tackling such a subject make it and keep it a masterpiece which will continue to be essential for generations to come. If you are not sure which tarot book to buy, you CANNOT go wrong with this one. A classic! The only (small) downside I would find with it is that in regards to the minor arcana it does not go into the same details and depth with them as with the major arcana. Yes the majors are very important, but I would have liked to see the minors explored deeper as well. Still, an EXCELLENT book, which remains hard to surpass.

This is one of the best books for Tarot beginners. It clearly explains the imagery and meanings of each card in the Rider-Waite-Smith system, covering both upright and reversed interpretations.

This was recommended from elsewhere and yes it is good. I would recommend

What a fascinating insight not only into tarot but also into one person’s journey and reaction to a wealth of research and knowledge. A must have book.

I can see why this book sometimes is called the bible of RWS tarot. Rachel Pollack does a good job going through origins, meaning and spreads of the tarot. I especially like her narrative description of each major arcana, one of the best I have seen. Having said that, I also feel some things are missing, a reference list in the back would have been nice, the minor arcana especially the court cards are covered only so so, in my opinion, maybe keywords for each card would have been nice too. As a reference book I like Holistic Tarot by Wen more. However I do feel this book is among the top 10 books on the RWS deck out there.

Recomended by an aquantance and its very well written. I would say an intermediate book, not a beginners, as it does not appear to be a quick reference book, but nicely written, with some good ideas so far (im only a quater into it), there are brauder explanations (I use wyrd is the new black web site for example) in some other books and sorces, so possibly not a stand alone guide and study.

The best Tarot book I own on the subject matter. I have a few but this lays out the tarot like no other. Very recommended whether a newbie or well-versed.