Hi all: Big book fan here - everybody's covered the basics and mentioned my favorites. Different styles of books appeal to different people obviously, but for what it's worth, the tarot really didn't start sinking in for me until I read Rachel Pollack's 78 degrees.
Someone asked what 78 degrees was about: It is based on the RWS deck and is divided into three parts. It gives meanings for all 78 cards, part one is the majors, part two is the minors, and part three explains three spreads in detail and gives a few example readings. There are no exercises in the book - it reads like a novel. The reason why so many people recommend the book is because Ms. Pollack is an engaging writer and her book holds your attention while teaching you.
Learning the Tarot is a hands on book that has plenty of exercises to develop your ability to think about the cards and their relationship to you and each other.
I already have a whole slew on my wish list. I think a great and complete "tarot course" would have to include: 78 degrees, Learning the Tarot, Tarot for Yourself, Tarot Reversals, Complete Illustrated Guide to the Tarot, Tarot Dictionary and Compendium, Tarot for Self Discovery (Nina Lee Braden).
I was wondering though, has anyone read "Knighthawk's Tarot Readings" ?? I love the idea of reading a ton of example readings and this is the only book I have heard of that focuses exclusively on that.... It is self-published though and apparently very expensive to get ahold of right now.
