i like the book
the reason why I like the book is the ten symbols of the minor arcana..
I never really looked at the symbolism of the minor just went by the basics.
I just brought it on a whim,,and looked through it.
lots of time the publishers name books that figure they would sell, like one poker book which was just on the basics was called the complete guide which the author said he wished it wasnt' named that.
so i see why some dont' like the title especially in the context of what is provided.
of course looking at the back of the book you see
primary meanings, spiritual meanings, love, success. and tendancy.
nowhere is history, astrology, numerology, psychology, or even inuitative mentioned, which is a good thing for the astrology four pages at the back might as well not even be there.
I like the majority of you think it is misnamed, at best i would called it the top things about the tarot image perhaps.
one thing that I loved starting out as a beginner and i look forward to in a good book is when the author provides sample readings.
and here i think that would of been very useful if they provided like 5 sample readings providing how to use the symbolism in a reading. I think that would of help beginners immensely.
so going back to why i like it, i like it for the ten symbols on minor arcana,, i opened up the nine of swords and see they used the imagery for points twice the quilt, and the face . so that is two repeats but they are different takes on the same situation.
and looking at number ten of the tarot fact. that practically everywhere the cards are seen as mirror..I don't see them really that way,,only using that when i am struggling to get a card to relate to the client.
anyhow there are a lot better beginners book and advanced books out there. a beginner will usually i think for that is what i did buy 5 or 6 tarot books as their passion takes off.. so this book will most likely sit there in a person library , pretty to look at,, and perhaps to look at the card in a new way they might pick it up and look at the "ten most important symbols " now and then over years.
so in retrospect , 4 for prettiness. 2 for usefulness out of 5 stars (due to ten things about a card ) 1 for knowledge. (no deep thought no astrology, etc)
edited to add
i am the type of person to like a bad movie for a particular scene so that is why i liked the book.